Poker is a game of cards that involves betting and requires a good understanding of probability. It is also a game of psychology. Players who understand how to read the tells of other players can take advantage of them and make more money. These tells are the unconscious habits of a player that reveal information about their hand. They can be as simple as a change in posture or gesture.

To start a hand, each player must ante something (the amount varies by game but in our games it is usually a nickel). Then the dealer shuffles and cuts the deck. The player clockwise to the initial dealer is then given a card and will be the first to place their bet into the pot.

The next player to act is Alex. He has a pair of kings, which aren’t great off the deal but not bad either. He ’checks’ which means he calls when he doesn’t owe anything to the pot and puts a dime into the pot.

Charley now has to decide whether to call or raise. He has a weak hand and he knows it, but he doesn’t want to go all in because he might not win the whole pot. He decides to call and puts another dime into the pot. If Dennis has a better hand than his and wants to raise he will need to call and put more into the pot to stay competitive.