Generally speaking, poker is played by a group of people around a circular table. The objective of the game is to have the highest ranked hand of cards. The player with the highest ranking hand wins the pot.

There are different variations of poker played with different number of players and different stakes. In general, the ideal poker number is between 6 and 8 players.

The showdown is the final round of betting in a game of poker. All players with hole cards show their hand to each other. A player can call or fold. The player who folds has lost the hand, so he or she is out of contention for the pot.

The ante is a small bet made in the beginning of the game. This is usually $1 or $5. During the first two rounds, each player has the right to raise or call. The house rules for a given game usually limit this.

The “straight” is five cards in sequential order. This can be achieved by hitting needed cards on the turn and river. In some poker variants, a joker counts as the fifth card.

The “straight” is not as straight as it sounds. For example, a straight made of two deuces is not valid. But, a straight made of two deuces beats a straight made of two kings. A straight made of kings beats a straight made of jacks.

The “most” relevant poker hand is the highest-ranking card. The ranking of individual cards is ace, king, queen, and jack. However, the best hand is the most expensive.