Key Lessons in Poker
Poker is a card game of skill and chance. Its rules are simple and the game is played by millions of people worldwide. Tournaments range in size from locals to major events, but they all share common elements that make them competitive and enjoyable.
Poker’s key lessons are rooted in probability theory—thinking about how likely something is to happen and tailoring your actions accordingly. But as Cardano wrote, understanding probabilities isn’t enough to tame luck. You need to leave your certainty at the door and be ready to make mistakes.
After cards are dealt, each player has a choice to either fold (leave the hand) or play it—that is, bet, call, or raise. Players then take turns revealing their hands. The player with the best hand wins the pot.
If you’re holding a strong hand pre-flop, bet at it! This forces weaker hands to fold and increases the value of your hand. But if you hold a weak hand and the flop comes up with nothing good, just fold. You’re wasting money by sticking around to hope for the one card you need, and it won’t come anyway.
Position is also critical to your starting hand range and strategy. Earlier positions like the SB and BB are at a disadvantage because they have less information on which to base their decisions. Moreover, the later your position, the more you can read your opponent’s betting actions to gauge their hand strength.
