Poker is a card game played with a deck of cards. Players are able to make a variety of poker hands by matching their cards to the cards in the pot. The highest hand wins the pot. There are hundreds of different games of poker.

One of the most basic poker hands is the straight. A straight is comprised of two distinct pairs and a fifth card. Typically, a high hand wins when the pair and the fifth card are of the same rank.

Another poker hand is the four-of-a-kind. Two four-of-a-kind of the same rank are considered a quad.

Another poker hand is the flush. A flush is a combination of all cards of the same suit. It is often used as the showdown.

Finally, there is the five-of-a-kind. When more than one player has two pairs and a fifth card, the highest ranked hand wins. Depending on the game, the low ranked hand may not be so low.

In addition to playing poker, players can bluff their way to victory. They can bet a small amount, place an ante or make a blind. Depending on the rules of the game, a player can discard up to three of their cards.

The biggest mistake a beginner to poker can make is not understanding how the betting is done. Players make bets in a clockwise direction. If a player’s bet is called, they have to fold or match the bet.