Poker is a card game that is played with chips. There are typically seven players around a table. Each player buys in for a set amount of chips. The smallest chip is worth one white chip, while the largest is worth five. The game is fast-paced, with players betting continuously until someone has all the chips or they fold.
Unlike most card games, poker has an element of story telling to it. It’s about the people and their reactions to the cards they are dealt, the by-play between players and the way in which they bet. Personal anecdotes are great, but they need to be accompanied by real facts about the hand, e.g., who flinched or smiled, etc.
The game requires good basic knowledge of the rules and how to play. Beginners should be tight, playing only the strongest hands and avoiding crazy bluffs, but they also need to know when to call, and how to raise the pot.
More advanced players understand the importance of a range, which is the full scale of hands a player could hold in a specific situation. They also pay attention to their opponent’s tells, which can be as subtle as fiddling with the cards or as obvious as a nervous twitch.
Learning how to bluff is essential to the game, and there are many books on the subject. However, a beginner can make serious mistakes by bluffing without a solid understanding of probability and game theory.