Basic Rules of Poker

Whether you are just beginning to play poker or you’re a seasoned player, there are a few basic rules you should know. Poker is a game of chance and skill, so you should treat your opponents with respect. Never talk or offer advice if you are not in a hand. This can ruin the atmosphere and make your opponents uncomfortable.

The goal of poker is to build a pot. Once the cards are revealed, a showdown occurs, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.

Poker is played with a standard 52-card pack. The cards are dealt clockwise around the table. The dealer shuffles the cards, then deals them to each player one at a time.

The highest hand wins the pot, but if there are multiple players tied for the highest card, a high card breaks the tie. When two people have a four of a kind, a higher card wins.

Some poker variations divide the pot between the highest and lowest hands. For example, “AQ+” means that players should select pocket pairs above theirs, but do not include suit qualifiers. The other variation is “JJ+,” which means players can select pocket Jacks.

Players must fold if they do not match the current open bet. When it is their turn to act, they can raise the bet or call. The remaining player collects the pot without revealing his hand.

Betting is done in the center of the table, and in most games, it is done in clockwise order. After three raises, the amount of betting is “capped.” Players must match the previous bet or fold.