Poker is an exciting card game in which players bet against other players for a share of the pot. It is played in many variants and has gained popularity worldwide as a recreational pastime, especially in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The rules of poker are relatively simple. The player with the highest hand wins.
A poker hand consists of five cards. The hands rank in inverse proportion to their odds (probability).
Each hand is dealt face-down to each player and then an ante is placed by the players before betting begins. This ante is usually a small amount and the players must place it before they see their cards.
During each round of betting, players can “fold,” which means they do not play this round; “check,” which means they match the bet; or “raise,” which means they add more money to the pot.
The hand with the highest ranking pair wins. If two or more hands have the same pair, ties are broken by the highest card outside the pairs.
Four of a kind is a hand with four cards of the same rank. If two or more hands have the same four of a kind, ties are broken by the highest unmatched card outside the hands.
Three of a kind is a hand with three cards of the same rank. If two or three hands have the same three of a kind, ties are broken in a similar manner.