Poker is a card game in which players place bets on their hands. Generally, the highest ranked hand wins the pot, which is all of the bets placed in one round. However, there are variations where the pot is split between the lowest and highest ranked hands.
Poker requires skill and strategy to win. The game is played by a group of people around a table, each with chips that they can use to make bets during the hand. Each player starts with an initial amount of money, which is called an ante or blind bet. Then the dealer shuffles and deals cards to each player, starting with the person to their left. The cards can be face down or face up, depending on the rules of the game.
After a few betting rounds, three community cards open on the table, known as the Flop. This allows the players to judge their own strength and compare it to that of their opponents, based on betting patterns. Players can choose to call, raise or fold their cards, according to their confidence in their hand.
While there are many ways to play poker, the most common are cash games and tournaments. The math involved in poker is relatively straightforward, but it can be difficult to internalize and apply at the poker table. This workbook will help you memorize the key formulas, build your intuition, and make smarter decisions at the poker table.