Probably the best known form of poker is Texas Hold’Em. But there are many variations of poker that are played around the world.

Regardless of which form of poker you play, the goal is to make the best hand possible. The best hand is a straight or flush, or a combination of two or more distinct pairs.

The best possible straight is five cards in a sequential order. A flush is five cards of the same suit.

The highest-ranking card is the high card, which breaks ties when two or more people have a similar hand. In poker, no suit is higher than another.

A high card isn’t always the best hand, but in certain games, it can be the best. For example, two four-of-a-kind, each with the same rank, beats a hand with two three-of-a-kinds. In other games, it can be the best hand when there are two identical hands tied.

Poker is played by a group of people around an oval table. The players are dealt cards one at a time, and are required to make bets. The players can fold, or they can check or raise. When a player checks, they must put in the same amount of chips as the preceding players. If a player raises, they may be required to put in more money than they have already bet.

The “showdown” is the moment when the hands are revealed. The player who makes the best hand wins the pot. If a player doesn’t win the pot, they split it with the player who did.