Basically, poker is a card game in which you try to make the best possible hand from your five cards. The game is played with a standard pack of 52 cards, which may be either face up or face down. Depending on the variation, you may also be given some jokers to add to the fun.

The smallest possible bet is the ante, usually a dollar or five. Each player must make a minimum number of chips equal to the total contribution of all players before them. If no one raises, you can choose to either stay in the game or fold.

The best possible hand is a straight flush, a five-card flush in the same suit. A straight flush can be high or low, but it cannot wrap around K-A-2-3-4.

A royal flush, on the other hand, is a straight flush with an Ace in it. A pair of kings isn’t bad, but it doesn’t make the best hand. A pair of diamonds and a jack of diamonds is also pretty good.

A surprisingly large amount of bluffing is involved in poker. Aside from the aforementioned bluffing, there are also several other forms of bluffing. For example, players may attempt to raise a bet that no one else makes.

Some variant games may also have a side pot, created from additional money bet by the remaining players. The most basic form of poker uses a standard pack of 52 cards. However, there are some variant games that use two packs of cards instead.