Poker is played with a standard pack of 52 cards (some games add jokers as wildcards). There are four suits and the card rank (high to low) is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3.

The dealer deals two cards to each player. The player to the left of the big blind takes the first turn. They can choose to “call” the amount put out by the player before them (putting in chips equal to or greater than the previous bet), “raise” the current bet by putting in an amount higher than the original bet (which means they are raising the pot), or push their cards face down without putting any chips into the pot (fold).

When it is your turn, you can also say “call” if you wish to call the same number of chips as the person before you. If you want to raise the previous bet, you can also do this but make sure to state how many chips you are raising.

When players are done betting, they reveal their cards and the player with the best hand wins the pot. The most common poker hands are a pair, three of a kind, straight, and flush. In case of a tie, the high card breaks the tie. Players should be mindful of table etiquette and be courteous to their fellow players, dealers, and wait staff. This helps keep the mood relaxed and fun!