How to Tell in Poker

Poker is a card game in which the highest hand wins the pot. Players ante an amount of money (either chips or cash) to get their cards dealt and then bet into the pot in turn. Typically, the player to the left of the dealer is the first to raise the stake. He can continue raising the stake up to a point where it is equal to the total amount of money raised by all the players before him. Then he must either call or fold.

A high pair consists of two of the highest ranked cards in your hand. A straight consists of five consecutive number value cards from more than one suit, including the ace. A flush consists of five cards in the same suit. A three of a kind is three cards of the same rank. A full house consists of three cards of the same rank and a pair of matching cards.

A tell is an unconscious habit or expression that gives away information about your hand. Tells can be as simple as a change in posture or as complex as a gesture. Learning to read other players’ tells is an essential part of playing good poker.