Poker is a card game in which players place bets on the value of their hand and can attempt to bluff others. There are many variations of the game, and betting rules change between them. It is possible to fold a hand during the course of play, though doing so forfeits any bets you have placed. When playing poker, it is also important to read the bets of other players and to compare hands (a high bet indicates a good hand, a low one the opposite).
A player can call a bet or raise it. If you call a bet, you must match it in chips or cash. You may “raise” a bet if you wish to increase its amount, but you must call it if you wish to match it.
When the cards are revealed, the winner is the player with the highest ranked hand. There are six winning hands: Royal flush, Straight, Flush, Three of a kind, Four of a kind, and two pair. The highest card in the winning hand determines its value.
Taking risks is an essential part of the game of poker, says Just. But if you notice that your odds of winning a particular hand are decreasing, it is sometimes better to fold than keep risking money at an unlikely outcome. “Being able to recognize the right moment to quit is key,” she says. “It’s a skill I learned as an options trader and that has transferred into my poker game.”