Poker is a card game that involves betting between players. Players place chips into the pot when it is their turn to act, and can raise or call bets made by others. Players may also bluff, trying to win by making other players believe they have a strong hand when they don’t.

The rules of poker are similar across all variations of the game, although there are some differences in how cards are dealt and how bets are placed. The game can be played with any number of players, but the ideal amount is six or seven. A player’s goal is to win the “pot,” or the sum of all bets in a single deal. This can be done by having the highest hand or by betting more than everyone else.

There are several different types of poker hands, ranging from two pair to a full house. A flush is three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 5-5-3-2, and a straight is five consecutive cards of the same rank, such as 6-6-6-6. A four of a kind is four cards of the same rank, such as five aces or five queens. If more than one hand has a four of a kind, the higher ranking hand wins.

It is important to have a good understanding of the odds in poker, Just says. That means knowing how to calculate your chances of a winning hand, and being aware that your odds can decrease from round to round. It’s a skill that Just learned as a young options trader, and one that she finds useful in poker as well.