Poker is a card game in which the object is to execute the best possible bet, raise or fold action based on the current situation at the table and the expected outcome over a long period of time. To do this, players must analyze their own and other player’s behavior and body language. They must also learn to read their opponents and understand how to bluff. Finally, they must develop good emotional control as playing poker can be very frustrating at times.
Each round of betting in poker is made up of one player making a decision to either bet or check. When someone checks, he passes on the turn to the next player who may then choose to bet or check again.
A poker hand is made up of two or more cards of the same rank, and is broken into the following categories:
Three of a kind is a hand consisting of three matching cards. A straight is five cards of consecutive rank in the same suit. A flush is five cards of the same suit that are not in order (straights skip around). A full house consists of two pairs and one matching card. A straight flush is a five-card poker hand that consists of all four of the same suits.
A sticky player is a player that doesn’t fold very often. They will often call with marginal hands and can be a challenge to beat in the pre-flop. The best way to play against these players is to tighten up your pre-flop range and use aggression more often in order to force them out of the pot.