Poker is a card game where players bet and try to make the best hand. The game has several variants, but the basic rules are the same.
Before playing, players are dealt a set of cards face down. They must place an ante to the pot and may discard up to three cards.
After the ante, each player gets a chance to bet or fold. After a certain number of rounds, or after all but one player has folded, remaining players must show their cards and the winner is the player with the highest-ranked hand.
Then, another round of betting occurs. This is called the flop and it’s where the action happens.
A flop can have any combination of cards that are in sequence or of the same rank. Examples include:
Full house (three of a kind plus two unmatched cards), flush, straight and 2 pair.
Check: In some variants, a poker player can say “check” during a betting round to let other players know that they don’t want to bet any more. When a player raises, however, everyone else must call the new bet or fold their hand.
Poker is a social game and should be played with respect to others. If someone else has a decision for a large part of their stack, it’s important to let them think before you act. It can also be a great opportunity to learn more about the other players’ strategies and gameplay.