Poker is a card game in which players place bets on their hand. The game can involve many different rules and variations, but there are some basic similarities: Players must ante (place a small amount of money into the pot) to be dealt cards, and they may then either fold or raise. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot. In most games, the winner takes all of the chips at the table – although in some situations players can agree to share the winnings.

When betting begins, the first player to act places a bet (amount varies by game, but our games typically start at a nickel). Players then have the option of calling (matching the original bet) or raising it. A raised bet often attracts attention from other players, which can lead to a multi-way pot or more calls.

The most common poker hands are straight, flush, full house and two pairs. A pair is two cards of the same rank, and a straight is five consecutive cards of one suit. A flush is 5 cards of the same suit, and a three-of-a-kind is 3 cards of the same rank. A high card breaks ties in these instances.

A key aspect of poker is being able to read other players’ actions and identifying their tells (eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures, betting behavior etc.). A player who often calls but then suddenly raises a large bet could be holding an exceptional hand!