Poker is a card game where players bet into a pot in order to win a hand. Each player must ‘ante’ something (amount varies by game) to get dealt cards, then place the amount of chips or cash into the pot that is equal to or higher than the amount placed in by the person before them. When it is your turn to bet, you must say “call” or “I call” in order to raise the amount of money you put into the pot.
When you have a strong hand, you can try to bluff and scare off other players from calling your bets by raising your own. This can force weaker hands to fold, and can lead to you winning a big pot!
If your opponents call your bluff, then you must fold your cards. This means that they have a good chance of having a better hand than you, so you have lost some money and may have even cost yourself more by betting on your bluff.
When you are holding a strong hand, it’s a good idea to bet as much as possible. This will make it difficult for your opponents to call your bets, and will force them to fold. It’s a great way to build your pot and can also scare off other players who have a good chance of beating you with a lucky flop!