Poker is a card game where players place bets against one another and then compare their cards to determine the winner. A poker hand comprises five cards and is ranked according to its mathematical frequency (ie the more rare the hand, the higher the rank). The game can be played with as few as two players, but it is most commonly played with 6 or 7 people. The goal is to win the pot, or the sum of all bets placed in a single deal. Players may also bluff by raising their bets when they do not have the best hand, in order to convince other players to call (match) their bets or concede.
The game of poker involves a fair amount of luck, but the skill element increases when bets are made. Players are expected to play their hands in an optimum way and avoid playing with bad hands or bluffing too often.
There are many variants of poker, but all are based on the same principles. The most important thing is to read up on all the different rules, including tells and betting strategy.
Some of the more common poker hands include: one pair (two distinct cards of the same rank), a flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit), a straight (six or seven cards in sequence, including the ace), and a full house (three matching pairs of cards). The highest hand wins. Ties are broken by comparing the high card.