The Basics of Poker
In poker, the cards are dealt face up to players. Since the cards have no memory, the expected “luck” of tonight’s session is the same as the “luck” of tomorrow’s session. In other words, the game is about risk and reward. In the case of draw high, the maximum raise is one bet. For more information, refer to discussion #6. In this article, we’ll discuss the varying strategies for this situation.
There are several different betting structures in poker, and the structure of each determines the rules of betting and raising. The three most common betting structures are fixed limit, blind, and ante. In fixed limit poker, the first player to bet is said to “bet.” Every other player who matches that bet is called a “call” or “raise.” A player who checks, however, does not bet, and must ensure that no other players have bet.
In the game of poker, players use chips. Each chip has a value, and each player purchases their own. The lowest-value chip is the white chip, which is worth five whites. A red chip, meanwhile, is worth ten or twenty or thirty whites. A blue chip, on the other hand, is worth two, four, or five reds. In most games, players “buy in” by purchasing chips, usually for the same amount.