Poker is a game of cards, where players place chips into the pot and compete to have the best hand. While it requires some luck, a well-trained player will almost always win more often than a beginner. Poker can be a relaxing pastime or a way to make money, depending on the level of skill applied.

In most Poker games, each player puts in a mandatory bet of some amount, called the blind or ante. Once the players have put in the money, they are dealt 2 cards each. These are known as your hole cards and are kept secret from other players. A round of betting then takes place. The best 5 card Poker hand wins the pot.

When it is your turn to bet, you can say “call” or “raise.” Calling means placing a bet equal to the last bet, while raising means increasing the previous raise. A player can also choose to not place any bet, if they wish.

After the first round of betting, a 3rd card is dealt face up, called the flop. Another round of betting then takes place. Once everyone has the chance to see the flop, a final card is dealt face up, called the river.

High card breaks ties. This is any card that doesn’t fit into a pair, straight, flush, or full house. A high card can even beat a royal flush, which is a five consecutive cards of the same suit (A-K-Q-J-T). Tiebreakers are used to determine winners when no hands are better than each other.