Poker is a card game that’s played from a standard deck of cards. Players bet money in rounds and win the pot by having the best hand.

There are many different kinds of poker games, but the basic rules are the same for all of them. The game begins with a pre-flop betting phase, when each player is dealt 2 cards face-down (hidden from other players) and one card face-up. After this, a flop is dealt (revealed to all players), and another betting round is followed.

The highest possible poker hand is a royal flush. It contains a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit (one kind–all clubs, diamonds, hearts or spades).

A straight flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit. It can only be beaten by a royal flush of a different suit, but not by any other straight or flush.

Some poker variants use wild cards, which can take on any suit and rank, but they must be ranked according to the owner’s preferences. These cards can replace any other card in the hand, and may or may not be used as part of a winning hand.

If you’re new to poker, it’s important to get comfortable with the rules and understand how to play. The best way to do this is to practice and watch other players play. This will help you develop quick instincts and improve your game.