Poker is a card game that involves both skill and luck. It is played in many different ways, including cash games and tournament play. Poker can be a lot of fun, and it is also a great way to meet people. However, it is important to know the rules of the game before you start playing. This article will give you a basic overview of the rules of poker.
The rules of poker vary depending on the variant being played, but most follow a similar formula. The cards are shuffled, cut by the player to their right and then dealt one at a time. There are usually a number of betting intervals between deals, but this varies from game to game. The player who places the first bet in a betting interval is known as the active player. Then, each player must place enough chips into the pot (representing money) to make their total contribution at least equal to that of the last player to act. This is known as the equalization method.
Once the players have their hands, they compare them. The highest hand wins the pot. High hands include pairs, three of a kind, and four of a kind. A straight is five consecutive cards of the same rank, while a flush is five cards of the same suit. Ties break in the case of two hands with the same ranking of pair, three of a kind or straight.