Poker is a card game that involves betting between players. Its history spans a wide variety of games with varying numbers of cards, from 3 to 14. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all bets made during one deal. The pot can be won by having the highest ranking hand, or by making a bet that no other player calls.
To play Poker, each player antes an amount of money into the pot, and then the dealer deals them 2 cards face down. Once everyone has acted, the dealer will then place three additional cards on the table that are community cards anyone can use (this is called the flop). There is another betting round, and the player with the best 5 card hand wins the pot.
A good poker player knows that ranges are the key to success. Trying to put an opponent on a specific hand is impossible, so it is better to work out what range of hands they could have and then adjust the odds accordingly.
The profitability of a call on a draw is determined by the risk-reward concept, which has its roots in probability theory. A good rule of thumb is that if your opponents are calling you when you have a strong draw, then you should call. Otherwise, you should fold. Exceptions to this rule are made when you have a good reason for being aggressive, such as bluffing against players who tend to check early on in a flop.