Poker is a card game in which players wager chips against each other. The goal is to create the best hand possible using the five cards dealt to each player. If your hand is the best, then you win the pot.
Most poker games feature an ante, a small bet each player must make before they can see their cards. Some games have a blind, a forced bet, that is not seen by the players until it is time to bet.
The best hand in a hand of cards is the straight flush. A straight flush is a set of five cards in sequential order, with the cards in the same suit.
The ante is the first thing each player puts into the pot, and it’s usually the smallest bet. In Texas Hold’Em, the ante is typically $1 or $5. It gives the pot an immediate value, and gives the players something to chase.
This is followed by a round of betting, during which a player can make a raise, call, or fold. Depending on the specific game, a raise might add an extra chip or two to the pot.
The big sandbagging trick is to bet on the river. This is not as simple as it sounds, however. You have to hit the right card on the turn and the river.
There are a number of other strategies for building a pot. One is to raise before the flop. Another is to check.