Poker is a card game in which players place bets on the outcome of a hand of cards. The player who has the highest ranked hand when all other hands are shown wins the pot (all bets placed during that hand).
The cards used in poker are normally a standard pack of 52 cards plus a joker. The cards are ranked as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all in suits; plus a wild card, usually deuces (2s) or one-eyed jacks (depending on the variant of poker being played).
When it is your turn to bet, say “open” to open betting. Players then take turns in clockwise order to either call your bet or raise it. Saying “call” means you want to match the last bet or raise it further. You may also say “fold” if you don’t want to raise or match the previous bet.
After the flop, players are dealt two more cards each and can choose to discard or draw one to three replacement cards from a pile in front of them. Depending on the rules of the game, this may be done during or just after the betting interval.
There is considerable skill involved in poker, especially when betting is a factor. However, there is no guarantee of winning. If you play it safe, you will probably lose, while if you are willing to take some risks, you could become very rich. Practice playing poker and watch experienced players to develop quick instincts.