Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires skill and strategic thinking. The object of the game is to have the best hand. The highest hand wins the pot, which is the aggregate of all bets made by all players in a given deal.

How to Play Poker:

The first step in playing poker is to ante a small amount of money, usually a nickel, into the pot. Then, the dealer deals cards to the players one at a time, beginning with the player on the left.

During the first betting round, players can choose to “fold,” which means they don’t play this round; “check,” which means they match the bets of others; or “raise,” which adds more money to the betting pool. Then, the players continue to bet until someone folds or calls.

In many variants of poker, the player with the best hand is called the “winner,” but in some it is the “loser.” The winner may be the player who makes the highest-ranking hand or the player who makes the smallest bet that no other player calls.

How to Adjust Your Hands:

It is important to adjust your hand pre-flop if you have a tight player at the table. Tight players will often play their hands face up after the flop and will tend to have a stronger range of hands, so you should adjust your post-flop strategy accordingly. Tight players will also make a lot of calls and will connect to boards more frequently, so you should avoid widening your c-bets too much.