Poker is a card game that involves betting and therefore requires a significant amount of skill and psychology. It is also a fast paced game that is often played in small groups with each player having their own stack of chips to act upon. A player can choose to “call” a bet by placing into the pot the same amount of chips as the player to their left, or raise it (put in more than enough for the other players to call) or drop (fold).
The game is generally played from a standard pack of 52 cards, although some variant games use multiple packs and some have wild cards. There are four suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs) but no suit is higher than any other. A poker hand consists of 5 cards. The highest hand wins.
In a game of poker, the dealer deals five cards to each player. If any of the players have a full house, they win the pot. If any of the players have a flush, they win the pot if their hand is higher than any other one at showdown.
A player may choose to check if they are not interested in betting during a betting interval. If a player checks, he cannot raise a bet in the next betting interval. A player can also choose to stay in the pot and continue to raise their stakes until a showdown, at which time they must raise or fold.