Poker
Know when to hold-em, when to fold-em, and when to walk away.
Goal
You hold the cards to smarter gambling
You play against your fellow players and make bets based on the strength of your hand.
Rules
Only play with money you can afford to lose.
Many variations of poker exist, with Texas Hold ‘Em being one of the most popular.
- You place an initial bet, called an ante
- Each player is dealt two cards face down (the “hole”), followed by a round of betting
- Three community cards are dealt face up (the “flop”), followed by another round of betting
- A fourth community card (the “turn”) is dealt face up, followed by more betting
- Finally, a fifth community card (the “river”) is dealt face up, followed by a last round of betting
- During each round, you can fold, stay pat or raise your bet
- The player with the best five-card hand out of the seven total cards dealt is the winner
Etiquette
Don’t act like a king. Be respectful of other players.
- Poker is played in a separate and distinct area of the casino floor
- Standing and watching is usually not allowed in the poker room
- Always wait your turn to discard or make a bet
- Never “splash the pot” by throwing your chips
Odds
Luck isn’t against you. Luck isn’t for you. Luck just doesn’t care.
- Always remain realistic about your chances of winning, and take a break if you’re beginning to lose sight of that
- There are several variations of poker, from Texas Hold ‘Em to Caribbean Stud. So having a budget as well as an understanding of both skill level and house edge are good strategies for healthy gambling
Terminology
Know the game. Play on your terms.
Ante: A mandatory, initial bet made by all the players
Pot: The betting money that all players are trying to win
Hole Cards: Any card dealt to players face down
Raise: To increase the amount of your current bet
Fold: Giving up your hand by forfeiting your cards