Basically, the goal of poker is to get the highest hand possible. The winning hand depends on the cards in the pot and the betting.
Each player is dealt five cards. Each player has the option of betting or folding. When a player folds, they lose any chips in the pot. However, they can use one card from their hand to improve their hand.
The most popular type of poker is Texas Hold’em. It’s best played with five or six players. There are a few different variants, but they all involve the same basic rules.
Before playing, each player must make an ante. An ante is a small bet that usually ranges from $1 to $5. This ante is the “buy-in” to play the round.
A flush is a set of five cards that have the same suit. When more than one person has a flush, the highest card wins. A straight is a set of five cards in a sequential order. If two people have a straight, the high card breaks the tie. A full house is a set of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. The next highest hand is four of a kind.
When all five cards are in a set, the set is considered a straight flush. The straight flush can have either a low or a high ace. If a straight flush has an ace that’s too low, it’s called a wild card.