Poker is a card game played by a group of people around a table. The aim is to win the pot by having the best hand. There are various variations of the game, but most have the same rules.

Players can place their bets in any order, but they can’t call other players’ bets. If a player calls, he has the opportunity to raise the bet, pass, or fold his hand.

If a player folds, his hand is discarded and he is no longer in the game. A player can also “check” when he doesn’t want to bet.

A card is dealt clockwise among the players. A button (usually a plastic disk in live poker) indicates the dealer.

Rank of Cards

A standard poker hand is valued by the highest card, regardless of suit. If two or more identical hands tie, the highest unmatched card breaks the tie and the winnings are shared.

Two Pairs

The most common pair is two of a kind, but if both players have identical pairs they win the hand.

Straight Flush

A straight is a five-card hand consisting of a running sequence of cards, without any matching suit.

Three of a Kind

A three-card hand made up of three cards of the same rank and one other card of another rank wins.