Whether you’re playing poker for the first time or you’re a seasoned veteran, the rules are the same. The goal of the game is to create the best possible hand, or pot, with the five cards that you are dealt.
Typically, there are two or more betting intervals. During each of these intervals, each player is given one card face up. The highest hand wins the pot. However, this isn’t always the case. If two or more players have the same high card, ties are broken.
The best hand is a straight flush, or five cards of the same suit. This is sometimes called the Royal Flush.
Another notable hand is the straight, which is five cards in sequential order. It is often used as the showdown. The top of the deck is used to draw new cards.
Several variations of the game exist, including Three-Card Monte and Spit-in-the-Ocean. Some versions even use jokers, which are extra cards that are added to the standard 52-card pack.
The kitty is a special fund that is shared by all of the players in the game. The kitty is used to pay for a new pack of cards. If you drop out of a game, you’re not entitled to your share.
The ante is a small bet that is used in most games. It is usually either $1 or $5. This bet is the first to be made during each of the betting intervals.