Poker is a card game where the twin elements of chance and skill are both required to win. Over time the application of skill will virtually eliminate the luck element of the game.

To begin, players make two mandatory bets (called blinds) before they see their cards. These bets create a pot immediately and encourage competition. Each player then has a chance to call, raise or fold their hand. If a player calls, they must make at least the minimum amount that the previous player raised. If they raise more than the previous bettor, they are said to “raise”.

After the first round of betting is complete the dealer puts 3 cards face up on the table that everyone can use (called the flop). A second round of betting begins with the player to the left of the active player.

Once the flop is revealed players start to reveal their hole cards one by one. Their objective is to beat the card in the middle, which can be any rank of card. The strongest hands are pocket kings and pocket queens. However, if the flop is full of aces it can spell doom for those hands.

A fifth card is then dealt face up on the table and there is a final round of betting. Once the betting is over the dealer will expose all of the cards and the player with the highest ranked poker hand wins the pot.