Poker is a betting card game that requires the ability to read opponents, predict odds and keep a cool demeanor while making big bluffs. It is a source of recreation and even income for many people around the world.
When a hand is dealt, each player must place an ante or blind bet (often both) before they can act. Each player then has the choice of raising, calling or folding their cards. If they raise, they must continue to raise in turn until everyone else calls or the pot is empty. If they fold, they are out of the hand.
After the antes are placed, the dealer shuffles the cards and offers them to the player on their right for a cut. Then the first of several betting rounds begins. Between rounds players may choose to discard and draw new cards to improve their hands. When the final betting round has taken place, the player with the highest hand wins the pot.
There are different types of poker hands, with the highest-ranking being a Royal flush which consists of a Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of one suit. Other common poker hands include a Straight, Four of a kind and a Full house. There are also some poker hands that are easier to conceal than others, for example a pair of fives on the flop is a fairly easy hand for other players to identify.