Playing Poker and Casinos
The Poker Family of Casino Games
The term "poker" is applied to a whole family of card games with one thing in common: they make use of combinations of cards known as "poker hands" to determine who the winner is. Poker is usually played for money, i.e. as a gambling sport.
A general outline of poker play is as follows:
Some or all players make a forced bet to put money in the "pot" (money to be played for). Then following a certain order, each player is dealt their cards. These cards may be dealt facing up or down depending on the rules. After cards are dealt, players take turns betting. They can "bet" if no one else has done so before them, "call" if they want to make the same bet as the last one made, "raise" if they want to make a larger bet, or "fold" if they no longer want to play. When everyone has either called or folded, play moves to the next round.
In subsequent rounds, more betting takes place and more cards are dealt. Each player may be dealt new cards or the cards may be shared by all. In some games like draw poker, you have a chance to discard some cards and have them replaced.
After the betting and dealing are all done, and there is more than one player left, there will be a showdown. The player with the best hand according to the rules wins the pot.
Poker Play
The betting decisions required of the players and the fact that poker is played against fellow players make it unique among card games. Since one can "fold" or quit playing if they believe they don't have the best hand, players can use tactics to make one another fold. This can be done by "bluffing" or playing as if you have the best hand when you don't, or by betting on the value of your hand if it is strong. If only one player is left at the end of the game, they win immediately without need to show their cards.
All this makes poker a game of psychology and strategy. Poker players train themselves to read the body language and playing styles of their opponents. The more you can read into your opponents' moves, the more you have an idea what cards they hold. This in turn makes the game easier to win.
Poker in Casinos
As a casino game, poker stands out head and shoulders above the crowd. Why? Because unlike all the other games, you don't have a house advantage to contend with in poker. You play against other casino players like yourself. The only advantage lies with the best player. In poker, the best player really can win.
Note though that the casinos still make money from poker. (Otherwise why would they offer it?) Out of each pot that is won, the house takes a commission called "rake." In the long run, you can lose a lot of money to the rake, which is just like tax. But if you play poker online, you can get back some of it through "rakeback" promos offered by poker rooms.
Poker is not for casual players. If you want to have an easy time, you shouldn't play poker which takes lots of study and practice to succeed in. To play poker in the casino, you must be out to win and earn money, not just to have fun. Poker, more than any other game, is for serious casino gamblers.
