Poker is a card game where the goal is to win money from the players at your table. It is often played for high stakes and has a rich history of controversies, scandals and shady dealings. There are a few basic rules that you should be familiar with before you play poker.

Ante – The amount of money put into the pot before anyone sees their cards. This is usually placed by the player to the left of the dealer. Call – If someone else bets and you want to match their amount, say “call.” Fold – When you don’t have a good hand, you can fold your cards to get out of the hand. This can be done at any time during the hand.

Learn how to read the other players at your table. This includes their betting habits and “tells,” which are a way of telling if they have a strong hand or not. For example, if a player that normally calls every hand makes a big raise, they likely have a great hand and are trying to scare off the other players.

High Card – If no other combinations can be made, the highest card wins. This is also known as ace-high. Two Pair – This is a hand that has two cards of equal rank (aces, kings, queens, or jacks) and three other unmatched cards. If more than one player has two pairs, compare the highest ranking odd cards – for example J-J-2-2-4 beats 5-5-7-8-9-3.

Flush – This is 5 consecutive cards of the same suit, regardless of their rank. If more than one player has a flush, the highest ranking card breaks the tie. Three of a Kind – This is 3 cards of the same rank. Two Pair – This is a pair of cards of the same rank and another unmatched card. If more than one player has a pair, compare the highest ranking pairs – for example J-J-2-2-4 is higher than 5-5-7-8-9-3.

Straight – A straight is five cards that are in consecutive order and of the same suit, such as 10-9-6-5-4. If more than one person has a straight, the highest ranking card breaks the tie.

Now that you know the basics of poker, you can start learning how to improve your game. Remember to practice regularly, have fun, and stay focused on your goals. Even the most successful poker professionals started out as beginner players, so don’t give up if your first few hands aren’t perfect. Just keep improving and follow these tips to become a pro in no time!