Poker is a gambling game that involves cards and a pot of money. The objective of the game is to have the best hand possible and beat other players. It is a highly popular pastime and can be played at home or in casinos.

The Rules of Poker

Before the cards are dealt, each player must put an initial contribution into the pot, called an ‘ante’. This is typically a small amount of money, though it can vary by game.

The Deal

After a round of betting, each player is dealt five cards. The highest hand wins the pot. If no one folds, a showdown takes place where all the hands are revealed.

Betting rounds

Each round of betting involves placing bets in the middle of the table. The betting rounds are usually clockwise, and if a player calls, they must match the bet.

Folding

When a player wishes to end the hand, they fold by putting all their cards face down onto the table. This is commonly done to avoid drawing further cards, but it can also be used to make a big bluff or take advantage of an opponent’s bluff.

Hands

A hand is a grouping of five cards that are made with the cards you have or a combination of your cards and the cards in the community. The hands most commonly made are the standard five-card poker hand, but there are many variations of poker.

High Card

The highest possible hand in most poker games is a five of a kind, a ranked hand that is made up of five cards that all rank the same (for example, a pair of aces beats a pair of kings). A four of a kind is a hand made up of four cards of the same rank, and a three of a kind is a hand with three cards of the same rank.