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The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best hand possible. To do this, players use a standard deck of 52 cards, with some variants adding a joker. The cards are ranked from Ace high to Ace low, and are used to form hands. The cards are dealt in groups of five. Depending on the game, each player may be dealt a different number of cards, but each hand is usually composed of five cards. Some games also have special wild cards, which can change the suit of a card.

A poker game typically requires a large round table and several chairs. Several players can join a game, but most games are limited to eight or nine players. The key to winning is to read your opponents and predict their moves. It also helps to maintain a cool demeanor while bluffing. The goal of the game is to win as many chips as you can from your opponents.

The top winning hand in poker is a pair of two cards with the same rank. A pair of three cards of different ranks is also possible. A no-pair hand is the lowest possible hand. It is possible to make four of a kind with the other two cards.