Poker Basics: The Absolute Overview
Poker in general, revolves around a level of risk or gambling. It's the way the cards are dealt, it's the way it is. Poker also carries several requirements, the most important of which is that any poker game that is true to the spirit of poker is one that requires people. You don't have to know the people you're playing against well, but you'll definitely need them to get a real game going. It is not altogether rare for a set of friends or even people who just love poker and live nearby to set up a few nightly games and get the chips going across the table. Poker parties, if handled correctly and properly, are enjoyable events, even if poker is only a part of the general festivity and of course, the following poker basics apply.
Poker and its many poker variants, in general is about getting a better hand or card than the other guy and by doing so with relative consistency, end up having more money than you entered the game with, even perhaps with all the money at the table that night. Poker variants in general have different methods of rating and even constructing these hands, though all poker variants require the standard fifty two card European deck. Some betting rules apply across the board however and generally, the possible hands like the straight or the full house remain consistent in their definition.
Most poker games have something called an ante, which basically forces money on the table to make sure that something happens. Some poker variants use something called the blinds, which, unlike the ante, actually counts as a bet and thus much be matched. This is then followed by cards being distributed to the players. The number of cards handed out changes with each poker variant, though the poker basics generally remain the same. Betting rounds then ensue, where players can either increase the number of chips being offered by each player, match it, or surrender and give up their cards and their chance to win the money for that round. If players reach the last betting round, then their respective hands are ranked and compared and the one with the better hand wins.
These are of course, only the poker basics. There's much more depth to be explored, depth that is usually specific each poker variant. However, these poker basics should get you started on the way to completely understanding this wonderful card game.