Poker is a card game played between a number of players. It is a game of chance but skill can also play a significant part in determining the outcome of a hand.

In the simplest form of the game, one forced bet (an ante or blind) is made by each player before cards are dealt. A betting interval then takes place, with raising and re-raising permitted. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. If no one has a winning hand, remaining players participate in a showdown and reveal their hands to each other. They can then either collect the pot without revealing their hand or drop out of any side pots they may have contributed to and relinquish their rights in the original pot.

A high card is the best possible hand, followed by a pair (two matching cards). Three of a kind are a higher ranking than two pairs and four of a kind are better still. A straight is five consecutive cards of the same suit. Finally, a flush is four cards of the same rank and suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades) with an ace.

When playing poker it is important to understand how to read your opponents. This is accomplished by paying attention to subtle physical tells. For example, if a player scratches their nose or plays nervously with their chips it is likely that they are holding a weak hand. In addition, it is important to know when to fold and when to call bets.