Basically, poker is a betting game, played with a standard 52-card deck. There are variations to the rules, but in general, each player receives seven cards face down.
The goal is to win the pot by having the best hand. Depending on the game, players may win by bluffing or betting the right amount.
Each player is dealt a set of cards, which are ranked from ace high to ten high. The highest poker hand possible is five of a kind. However, a straight flush is the best natural hand.
Ties are broken when there are two or more people with the same high card. A tie is also broken when there are two or more players with the same rank of four of a kind.
The first player to the left of the dealer will call a bet, and the next player will make a raise. Each player has the option to re-raise the bet or fold. If a player folds, he will lose any chips in the pot.
When a player is dealt a straight flush, he wins the pot if he holds the highest card of the suit. If he holds the lowest card of the suit, he wins the pot if a player holds the second highest card.
A player can bluff his way to victory by making a bet that no one else calls. This is called a “sandbagging” bet. In this scenario, he has to build a pot before he can bet on the river.