Before the game begins, every player contributes an ante to the pot. This gives the pot an immediate value. During a hand, players can also make an all-in bet, placing all of their chips in the pot. These bets are known as “raises” and have a distinct purpose. They may also be used to increase the pot size or decrease it. While the ante is a necessary part of Poker, the ante is not the only way to increase the pot.
There are various types of poker games, so you’ll need to learn about the many variations available. For example, in games of seven or more people, you will need to supply poker chips for each player. Each chip represents a different value – a white chip is worth one unit, while a red chip is worth five units of money. Typically, players “buy in” to the game by purchasing chips with the same value. The goal of a game is to reach a certain amount of chips and win it.
Each round of the game begins with a compulsory bet. This bet is often an ante. Depending on the rules of the game, each player may be required to raise or put in a bet. Once a player folds, they lose all their chips in the pot. During the following betting intervals, all players must place their bets and raise their chips. Afterwards, all players must discard their discarded hands. This process continues until a player has the best possible hand.