Using a standard pack of cards, players try to form the best hand possible. This hand may include two distinct pairs of cards, plus a fifth card of equal value.
There are many variants of poker. The rules vary from game to game, but each variation shares certain essential features. For instance, a straight flush is a hand of five cards in sequence, each card of a different suit.
A high card breaks a tie when more than one person has a pair of kings. A three of a kind is the combination of three cards of the same rank with two cards of the same rank, whereas a four of a kind is a hand of four cards of the same rank.
A showdown occurs when all the hands are revealed. Each player can call, pass, or fold. However, if a player raises his bet, other players must accept or call, but they can’t force him to fold.
The highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. The pot is a collection of all bets made by all players in the deal. Typically, each player must contribute a certain number of chips to the pot, which is a function of the amount of money in play. In case a draw occurs, the pot is split equally among the players.
In a nutshell, a poker game is played around a table with a circle of chairs. Players are given a deck of cards, which they shuffle. The first player to the left of the dealer button is the initial dealer.