Poker is a card game that requires skill and strategy. It is played in private homes, casinos, and poker clubs around the world.

There are many variations of the game, and it can be played in both live and online environments. However, there are some basic rules that can be used across most of them.

A betting round starts when one player in the circle ‘antes’ something (amount varies by game, we play a nickel in our games). The dealer then shuffles and deals cards to each player.

The players then take turns revealing their cards, and the player with the best hand wins the pot. Then a betting round starts again, with antes and blinds.

Players must ‘call’ when they have a good hand, or ‘raise’ when they have a poorer hand. Betting continues until everyone calls, raises or folds.

Checking:

In some poker variants, a player can check when they do not want to bet further. Once another player raises the pot, however, each other player has to call the new raise or fold.

Straight:

A straight is a set of five cards in sequential order, for example 5-6-7-8-9. A straight can be high or low, with an ace either high or low.

Royal Flush:

The highest natural hand in poker is a straight flush, with an ace high. It is also the best possible hand in a game where each player has a pair of pocket cards and no other cards.