Poker is a game of chance and skill in which players place bets against one another. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum total of all bets made by the players in any given deal. Bets may be placed with either cash or chips. Chips are normally preferred because they are easier to manage and count.
Each player begins the game by placing an ante or blind bet. Then the dealer shuffles and cuts the cards. The cards are then dealt to the players one at a time, starting with the player to their left. Once everyone has their cards the first of many betting rounds begins.
When it comes to poker, the most important thing is to develop a strategy that works for you and stick with it. There are plenty of books out there that discuss various strategies, but the best way to learn is to just play the game and try different things.
The most common poker hands are a full house (three of a kind plus a pair), flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit) and straight (cards in sequence but not necessarily in order). A royal flush is composed of a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suits. Other poker hands include four of a kind (four matching cards) and two pair (two sets of two matching cards). The highest-ranking hand is the royal flush.