Poker is one of the few games where the element of luck can bolster or tank a player’s ability to excel. But learning the intricacies of poker can make for a game that is deep and satisfying to play.
The rules of poker are similar to other card games, but a key difference is that poker players have an opportunity to influence the result of a hand by making decisions before they reveal their cards. This is known as “mapping” and allows you to work out how likely it is that an opponent will have a particular hand before they show it.
Once the cards are dealt, there is a round of betting – the first player to act puts in 2 mandatory bets called blinds (these money bets ensure that there is always some value in the pot for people to try and win). After these bets are placed, 1 more card is revealed face up.
Some players will bluff with their weakest hands in order to reduce the number of other players who might call their bluffs. This makes it easier for the player to win a hand, as the odds are much lower that their opponent will have a better one than them.
However, you should always be wary of bluffing with a strong hand. This will often lead to your opponent calling your bets – especially on later streets if you are not raising enough to price their range out of the pot.