Traditionally, poker is a game of chance, but when betting is introduced to the game it becomes a game of skill and psychology. The goal is to use the cards you are dealt and the five community cards on the table to make the strongest five-card hand.

When the betting starts, players have a choice to ‘call’ (put chips into the pot in response to someone else’s bet), ‘raise’ (put more money into the pot than the previous player), or ‘drop’ (reject their hand and not compete for the pot). The amount of time you spend thinking about your options is key to the success of your poker game. The more you think about what’s possible, the better your decision-making will become.

A Pair of Kings on the Flop

While pocket kings are a good starting hand they’re not nearly as strong when an ace hits the flop. This is why it’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your hands and how to adjust your strategy accordingly.

Position is a Big Deal

Poker is a card game and, as in most games of chance, luck has a lot to do with your final result. However, the more you play, and the more you observe experienced players, the more quickly your instincts will develop. In fact, the best players have a natural sense of how they’d react in certain situations, and they are able to play off this feeling without thinking about it too much.