Poker is a card game in which players compete for the highest hand. The winner of a hand is called the high hand, and the player with the lowest hand is known as the low hand. In a game of poker, the highest hand is the one that consists of more than one pair of cards. Often, a high hand has several suited cards, which makes the game more challenging.

Poker can be played with any number of players, although 6 to 8 is ideal. Each player makes bets, which are gathered into the pot. A player can win the pot if they have the highest-ranking poker hand or make the last bet without being called. Poker is also played in hundreds of variations.

Different poker variations have different betting intervals. Players are supposed to place a bet at specific intervals, and one player has the privilege or obligation to bet first. Every player must then place a set number of chips into the pot, equal to the number of chips that was placed by the player before him. In a single round of betting, the first bettor must bet the minimum amount of money in the first betting interval, but may check in later betting intervals.

One of the most basic hands in poker is a straight flush. A straight flush is five cards of the same suit. This hand can be made up of high or low cards. An ace high straight flush is known as a Royal Flush.