Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It is a betting game, with each player having the option to call, raise, or fold during their turn. In order to play poker, players must be familiar with the rules of the game and hand rankings.

Before cards are dealt, mandatory bets called blinds are put into the pot by the 2 players to the left of the dealer. Each player then receives 2 starting, or ‘hole’ cards.

After the initial betting round, a 3rd card is dealt, this is known as the flop. Then another round of betting begins. A player can either call the new bet, raise it (putting more chips into the pot than the previous raise), or fold. A player who folds forfeits any money they have already placed into the pot.

A 4th card is then dealt, this is known as the river. A final round of betting occurs. Having any four of a kind or a flush will win the game. The best hand is a Royal flush which includes a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit.

Other categories of hands include a straight which is any run of cards in rank or sequence, but not in suit. A full house is three matching cards of one rank and a pair, which is two matching cards of another rank plus an unmatched third card. A backdoor flush is when a player has 2 hearts in their hand and another heart shows up on the flop, turn, or river.