Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player places a forced bet (amount varies by game, in ours it’s usually a nickel) before they are dealt cards. Then each player can raise their bet at least once before the flop, turn, or river is revealed. The player with the highest hand when they show their cards wins the pot/all bets placed during that round.
The players use the community cards along with their own two hidden “hole” cards to make a poker hand. The five cards they choose determine whether they have a high hand, a low hand, or a nothing-at-all (called a “scoop”).
A full house consists of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank. A flush consists of five cards of consecutive rank, but not necessarily in order or from the same suit. A straight consists of five cards that skip around in rank and in sequence, but not from the same suit. A pair consists of two cards of the same rank, such as two sixes.
To improve your chances of winning, you must be able to recognize the betting patterns of your opponents. Some players are very conservative, folding early and only staying in a hand when their cards are good. Other players are more aggressive and will often bet high when they have a decent hand or think that their opponent is bluffing. This is called reading your opponents.
