Poker is a card game played by a group of people around a table. The game can be played for money or just for fun. It is a game of chance, but the game also involves some skill and psychology.

The basic rules of the game are that each player must ante something (amount varies by game, our games are typically a nickel) and then they are dealt cards face down. The players then place bets into a pot in the center of the table. The highest hand wins the pot.

Players can choose to Fold, Call, or Raise. The term raise means to increase the amount of money you bet. This is done by raising over the previous bet. This is the only way to win the pot if you have a strong hand.

In a betting interval, the first bettor, designated by the rules of the game, must bet at least an established minimum; players in turn may check, raise, or fold. After the betting interval, the dealer deals each active player another card. The original cards are then discarded and the showdown occurs.

A Royal Flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit. A Straight is five cards of consecutive rank, but from different suits. Two Pairs consist of two cards of the same rank and two unmatched cards. A Full House consists of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank.