Poker is a game of chance in which players bet on the value of their five-card hands. The player with the best hand wins a pool of betting chips called a pot.
The best Poker hand contains five cards that have a common rank (e.g., a pair of aces). However, there are many different ways to rank cards.
For instance, some games rank cards in descending order, while others rank them in ascending order. A full house is a combination of three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank, such as three 8s and two 4s.
Other hands include flushes and straights, which are five cards of the same suit in sequence, but not necessarily in that order. For example, a flush is Q, 10, 7, 6, and 2 of clubs, while a straight is 9, 8, 7, 6, 5.
Rules
Most poker games have the same basic rules: each player receives one card face down and one card face up, and the deal is interrupted for a betting interval. After the betting interval, a showdown occurs when the hole cards are shown to all remaining players.
During each betting interval, a player who meets the previous bet may call or raise his bet. The bets are matched until the betting interval ends, or when all players check.
The skill of playing Poker involves minimizing losses with poor hands and maximizing winnings with good hands. It also involves knowing how to read and respond to the bluffing of opponents.