A poker game is played between two or more players who compete to win a pot of chips. Typically, each player makes forced bets (called an ante or blind) before the dealer shuffles the cards and deals them to the players one at a time, starting with the player to their left. The players then act in a series of betting rounds, with the winner claiming the pot.
There are many variations of the game, but the basic rules are similar. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. The best hands include a full house (three matching cards of one rank plus a pair), a flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit), or a straight (five cards in sequence but from different suits). The lowest hand is a high card, which is simply the highest card in the hand.
The key to winning at poker is being able to read your opponents. Watch for subtle physical tells, such as scratching the nose or playing nervously with the chips. These can indicate that a player has a weak hand and is vulnerable to bluffing. It is also important to play all of your hands aggressively, especially the speculative ones like 7 6 or 5 5.
A player can increase the amount that they bet by saying “raise.” The other players then have the option to call the new bet or fold. In some games, a player can also say “check,” meaning that they do not wish to raise any further and will let the other players decide on their next move.