Poker is a card game in which players compete to form the highest-value hand. It’s a game of strategy, mental toughness and attrition, but it is also a number game and the luck factor is important to consider. The best hand is a Royal Flush (Jack-Queen-King-Ace of the same suit) followed by Straight, Four of a Kind, Three of a Kind, Two Pair and High Card.
When the cards are dealt, each player has 2 cards that are hidden to themselves and 5 community cards that are visible to everyone else. The first round of betting is started when a player puts up a small amount of chips into the pot. When it’s your turn, you can say “call” to match the bet of the player before you or raise it. If you don’t wish to bet, you can fold your cards and leave the hand.
Once the betting has ended, players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the pot. There are a lot of different poker variations but the rules are pretty much the same across all them. There are also a few unwritten rules of poker etiquette that you should be aware of when playing at the table. These are all about making the game fair and enjoyable for all.