Poker is a card game in which players try to create the best possible hand from the cards they have. The player with the best hand wins the pot.
A standard 52-card deck is used, with contrasting colors. The deal of the cards is done one at a time, face up, from dealer to player.
The first round of betting begins when a player makes a bet, or “calls” it. Other players must either “raise” the bet, which requires putting into the pot more than the amount that called; or “fold,” which means dropping out of the betting and removing any chips that have put into it.
Each betting interval, or round, continues until all players have made a bet. The highest bet that has not folded is the winner of the pot.
The highest standard poker hand is five of a kind (five consecutive cards of the same number), which beats any straight flush and breaks ties when two hands have identical fives of the same suit. Four of a kind is also rare but can still be won.
Three of a kind is a good hand, and can beat a flush or a full house, while a pair can be very strong. A straight flush is even more powerful, and beats any pair or four of a kind, but it’s not as easy to win as a flush or full house.
A key skill for a poker player is to bet when the odds are in his favor. If you’re dealing with a weak hand, it’s usually a good idea to fold.
