Poker is a card game where players make bets and raise or fold based on the strength of their hands. The best five-card hand wins the pot. The game can also be won by bluffing.
Before betting starts, each player puts in a stake (chips representing money) according to the rules of the poker variant being played. This is called opening. The person to the left of the opener makes the first bet. Then, in turn, each player must place in the pot at least the amount of chips placed in by the player before him.
After the first round of betting is complete the dealer deals three cards face up on the table that everyone can use, which is called the flop. Then there is another round of betting before all the cards are turned face up and the showdown begins.
The highest-ranking hands in poker are the Royal Flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit, ranked Ace through Ten), Straight Flush (five consecutive cards of the same rank), Four of a Kind (four distinct pairs), Two Pairs, and High Card. The higher the pair, the better the hand. If a hand doesn’t qualify as one of the above, then the highest card breaks the tie.
There are many different poker variations, some more common than others. However, the core of all poker games is the same and there are some common elements that should be understood before playing any of them.