Poker is a card game that is played between two or more players. It is usually played from a standard pack of 52 cards plus jokers (in some games only one or more of the suits is used).
The aim is to beat other players with a higher card hand. The highest hand wins the pot. There are different types of hands: A pair of kings, queens or aces is the best starting hand. A straight, three of a kind or two pairs are good hands too. It is important to have quick instincts in poker. Practice and watching other players play can help to develop these instincts.
Almost all poker games are played with chips. Each player buys in for a particular amount of chips to start the round. The most common chip is a white chip that is worth the minimum ante; other colored chips are worth 10, 25 or 50 whites.
A player may say “call” to match a previous player’s bet and remain in the round. A player can also raise their bet if they want to increase the size of the betting pool.
A player can fold at any time during the poker hand if they do not have a good hand or simply do not wish to stay in the game. It is important not to get too attached to good pocket cards such as a pair of kings or queens. An ace on the flop for example can spell doom for these hands.