Poker is a game of cards played against other players. There are a few different forms of poker, but all involve being dealt cards and betting over several rounds until one player has the best five-card hand to win the pot. Players can raise and call when they believe their cards are strong enough to compete for the pot, or fold when they don’t feel confident about their chances.
When you’re first dealt two cards, the dealer will usually check to see if anyone has blackjack (a pair of jacks). If they don’t, then betting starts with the player to his left. If you want to open the betting, then say “I’m opening.” If someone else already opened betting and you believe their hand is good, then say “stay.” If you think your cards aren’t good, then say “hit.”
In a normal game of poker, after everyone has received their initial two cards, a third card will be placed on the table face up. This is called the flop. After the flop is revealed, another round of betting will take place.
The best hands include a royal flush, which is any 5 of the same rank (eg, kings and queens) and are all in the same suit. A straight is 5 consecutive cards of the same rank, but can be from more than one suit. A full house is 3 matching cards of one rank, and 2 matching cards of another rank. And a pair is just two cards of the same rank, with no unmatched cards.