Poker is a game of cards in which you play against other players and try to make the best hand. It is played with a standard pack of 52 cards (some variant games use multiple packs or add a few cards called jokers).
The game begins by placing an ante in the pot; this ante is usually a small bet, like $1 or $5. After this, the dealer deals two cards to each player, keeping them secret from everyone else.
Once the betting round has begun, players can choose to fold, check or raise their bets. They can also discard up to three cards and receive new ones from the top of the deck.
Some games allow players to re-raise their bets if they wish, even if another player has raised the pot before. During this round, other players must call or fold if they want to continue the betting.
If more than one player remains in the game after the final betting round, there is a showdown, which means that the hands are shown and the best hand wins the pot. If there is a tie, the highest card breaks the tie.
The highest natural hand is a straight flush, which is five cards of the same suit. This straight can have an ace high or low.
There are 10 basic ways to win in poker. These are:
