Poker is a card game that has twin elements of chance and skill. Luck is an important part of any poker hand but the application of skill can eliminate much of it over time. This makes it a game that can be played by people of all ages and backgrounds.
The objective of the game is to form a poker hand based on the card ranking rules and win the pot at the end of each betting round. The pot is the sum of all the bets made by players in that hand. Players can also win the pot by making a bet that other players do not call, leading them to fold.
Each player starts by anteing something (amount varies by game, but our games start with a nickel). Then the cards are dealt. Each player then has the option to either raise their bet or fold their hand. The betting circle continues clockwise around the table until one person has all of the chips or someone calls a bet they don’t want to make.
Then the showdown happens! The best 5 card poker hand wins the pot. The highest pair wins the tie, then the three of a kind, straight, flush, and finally the full house. The high card rule is used to break ties in the event of identical hands. The most successful players are able to fast play their strong hands and build the pot, while chasing off other players who may be holding a better hand.