Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires skill to maximize your winnings. The key to winning is determining the optimal frequency and hand range of different actions – this takes time, practice & understanding a wide variety of strategies & situations.

The first step is to learn the basic rules and vocabulary of the game, including terms that you may not have heard before. We’ve put together a list of some of the most common poker terms to help you start playing the game in no time!

Blinds and Antes

In some games of poker, players are required to contribute a small bet called the “blind” before the cards are dealt. This bet gives the pot a value right from the start, and it is used to encourage players to raise their bets and bet-raise the pot when they have good cards.

Dealer’s button

In a live game, the dealer (the person who shuffles and deals the cards) is designated by a button that moves clockwise after each hand. The button to the left of the dealer’s position is called the “small blind.”

Draw Poker

In draw poker each active player begins with his original hole cards and draws new ones from an undealt portion of the deck, in turn. After this process there is a betting interval and a showdown, in which the player with the highest-ranking poker combination of his faceup cards wins the pot.