Using cards, poker is played with one to eight players. It can be played with a single deck of cards or multiple packs. A standard deck contains 52 cards. Some variants use jokers.
The best hand is a straight flush, or five cards of the same suit. The joker counts as the fifth card in certain special hands.
Ties are broken by a high card. For example, if three players all have kings and the kings are tied with the jack of hearts, the jack of hearts breaks the tie.
The highest three of a kind is the three kings. This is a very rare and exciting hand. Unlike a straight flush, a three of a kind is usually played with wild cards. Wild cards are cards that can take any suit.
The best natural hand is a straight flush, or five of the same suit. It’s a good idea to keep a few of your cards because it’s not always possible to make a five of a kind.
The best way to win at poker is to bet in the middle of the pot. Each player is required to place a certain amount of chips in the pot. This is called the ante.
If no bets or raises are made during the round, the players can check. The player who checks is said to stay in. This can be a big mistake. Often, the player who checks out is no longer in the running for the pot.