While poker can be a game of chance, it is also a game of strategy and psychology. In fact, a large portion of success in poker is due to reading other players and figuring out whether they are bluffing or have a strong hand. Luckily, you don’t need to be a famous player or math whiz to play poker, in fact many of the worlds best players started off playing at home with friends and family.
When the dealer deals cards to each player, they must place an ante into the pot before betting on the strength of their hand. Once the betting round is complete, players reveal their hands and the highest ranked hand wins the pot.
The most common poker hands are pairs (two distinct cards of the same rank), three of a kind (4 cards of the same rank) and straights (5 consecutive cards of the same suit). A royal flush is a five card hand consisting of a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of one suite. The kicker is the highest card not in a pair or straight.
On the flop the dealer will reveal three more communal cards which all players can use to make their strongest five card poker hand. After this, a second betting round begins and continues until every player puts the same amount of chips into the pot to stay in the hand or folds their cards.