Poker is a card game that involves betting between two players. Each player has two cards that they keep hidden and five community cards on the table. Players must use these cards to make their best poker hand, which consists of five matching cards. There are several different types of poker hands: Straight, Flush, Three of a Kind, and Two Pairs. A Full House has 3 cards of the same rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. A Straight is 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A Flush has 5 cards of the same suit that skip around in order but are not the same rank. Two Pairs contain 2 cards of the same rank and another two unmatched cards.

A considerable amount of skill is involved in playing a poker hand well. This includes knowing when to raise, call or fold and understanding the other players’ betting patterns (a high bet means a good hand and a low one indicates that the player is bluffing). It also requires an ability to read non-verbal cues, or tells, from other players to determine their intentions.

The game of poker is often credited to General Schenck, who brought it to England during a weekend retreat in the Somerset countryside. It is believed that he was asked to teach the game to his fellow guests by the owners of the estate. He is reported to have written a short guide for the players.