Poker is a card game that requires skill, risk-taking and commitment. It’s also a good way to learn the importance of weighing up your options. This can be helpful when making decisions in life, such as in a job interview, where you may have to compete against someone with a better CV.
Before the cards are dealt, players have to place a mandatory bet (called a blind) into a pot. They can then choose whether to check, call, raise or make an all-in bet. A round of betting then begins, with the player on the left of the dealer starting the process.
Once all the players have received their 2 hole cards, there is a second round of betting. This is based on the three cards that are dealt as community cards.
The value of a hand is determined by the combination of the cards. The highest possible hand is a full house, consisting of 3 cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. A flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit. A straight is four consecutive cards of different suits. A pair is two cards of the same rank, for example two sixes. There are also a range of other combinations of cards that can be made, which makes poker a game of chance.
