Poker is a card game with many variants that involve one or more betting intervals. Minimizing losses with poor hands and maximizing winnings with good hands is the underlying skill that poker requires.
Prior to the cards being dealt, the players will put an initial contribution, called an ante or blind bet, into the pot. This money is exchanged for chips of the appropriate value that are then used in each round of betting to place bets. These bets are gathered into the central pot and awarded to the player who has the best poker hand after the last betting interval. This final betting interval may include one or more side pots.
After the final betting interval, all remaining players will reveal their poker hands. The winning player will take the whole pot.
The most common poker hand is a pair. This consists of two matching cards of the same rank, and another two unmatched cards. A flush consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit. A straight consists of five cards of consecutive rank but from more than one suit. A full house consists of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank.
The last type of poker hand is a high card. This consists of any five cards that do not fit into any of the other poker hands. Players can use their high card to make a single bet, or they can raise it by placing additional chips into the pot. They can also call other bets, but they can’t win if their opponent makes a better hand.