Poker is a gambling game, where the highest hand wins the pot. It’s a game of chance, but also requires a lot of skill and psychology.
In most games, players must ante something (amount varies by game), and then they are dealt cards that they can either call or raise. Bets go into the middle in a circle around the table, and whoever has the best hand wins the pot.
If you’re lucky enough to be a winning player, you must be disciplined and stick to your strategy even when it gets boring or frustrating. Human nature will always try to derail you, whether you’re timid and want to fold too often or aggressive and want to bluff too much.
Once the betting is done, the dealer will deal replacement cards to everyone based on how many cards they discarded. You’re dealt a pair of kings off the deal, which isn’t bad (but not great) and Dennis raises a dime.
If you’re smart, you can figure out what kind of hands he’s playing and make an educated decision as to whether to call or raise his bet. The more you practice, watch experienced players and think about how you would react in their position, the better instincts you’ll develop. You can even use a calculator to help you figure out how many bets to make when you’re deciding whether to fold your hand or call a bet. That will save you a lot of money in the long run.