The Basics of Poker

Poker is a game where you play against other players in order to win the pot. There are different variants of poker and all of them involve betting intervals. A player has the privilege and the obligation to make the first bet. Each player must place a certain number of chips into the pot equal to the total contribution of the players before him. This player is called the active player.

Backdoor flushes

Backdoor flushes are draws that have more than one outer card, usually two. They rarely change a player’s strategy, and a backdoor flush should never be folded. However, if you have an unpaired hand and you are faced with a backdoor flush, you should try to bet in order to maximize your chance of winning.

Consider a scenario where Q 10 raises from the button in a cash game. If the big blind calls, the action is folded. Q 10 would give you four to a flush or straight, and if you’re holding an overcard, the flush draw will improve. This would give you a good chance of winning the pot, although there are other ways to win with this draw.