Whether you’re playing for money or just having fun, poker is a great classic card game. A standard 52-card pack is used in most games. Some variants also use jokers.

The first thing you should know is that each player gets two cards. You can check or fold. You can also bet. If you bet, the opponent will have to call your bet.

The best hand is a combination of two distinct pairs of cards plus a fifth card. The highest hand wins the pot. It’s not always the best combination of cards that wins, but it is the one that is most likely to win.

The first round of betting begins between the newly dealt cards. Each player can bet, match the bet, or pass. The players then reveal their hands, and the winner is the player with the best hand.

The highest card breaks a tie when more than one person has a hand of the same rank. If more than one person has a pair of kings, it’s not a great deal.

The most efficient way to play a poker game is to use two separate packs, with contrasting colors. This will speed up the game.

The ante is the minimum amount that you need to pay to play. This is generally $1 or $5. You can also buy in for a much larger amount. Typically, you’ll bet into the pot during each round. The amount you’ll bet is dependent on the type of poker you’re playing.