Poker is a card game in which players place bets into the pot on each hand. The player with the best hand wins the pot. The best poker players have a number of skills that allow them to calculate pot odds and percentages and to make decisions based on these figures. They also have the patience to wait for optimal hands and good position, and they know how to read other players.
You deal yourself a pair of kings off the deck (not great but not bad either). The betting starts and Alex checks (he doesn’t owe anything to the pot so he can check). Charley calls and puts a dime into the pot. Now it’s your turn and you can either call or raise. If you raise, you add an extra dime to the pot and the other players have to choose whether to fold or match your bet. Raise only when you think your hand is strong enough to be worth the risk. Otherwise, limping is usually the correct play.
When your turn comes, it’s important to leave your cards face up on the table and in sight so that other players know that you are still in the hand. Hiding your cards will get you passed over during betting and can mess up the flow of the hand for everyone else. If you have a big hand, you should raise to force weaker hands out of the pot and increase your chances of winning.