Poker is a card game of skill and luck. There are many variations of the game, but all of them follow similar rules. Players place bets and then reveal their cards in a showdown to determine the highest hand. Players may also bluff during the hand to win a higher pot.
In a standard game, there are two players and the dealer, who is responsible for shuffling the deck before each hand and betting last. The player to the left of the dealer is known as the button. When the flop is revealed, you can either fold your cards or call. If you choose to call, you must put up the same amount as the previous player. You can also raise, which means you are putting up more than the previous player.
The highest hand in Poker is a Royal Flush, which consists of a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit, all in sequence (clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades). The next highest is 4 of a kind. Three of a kind contains 3 cards of the same rank, and 2 matching cards of another rank. A flush is 5 cards of the same suit, but they can skip around in rank or be mixed.
To increase your chances of winning, it is best to think in ranges when playing a hand. This will help you spot conservative players and bluff them into folding their weak hands.