Poker has two basic types: cash games and tournaments. In cash games, the aim is to win money, and in tournaments, the goal is to be at the top of the chip leaderboard. In both types of games, your winning hand must be the best possible combination of five cards. A winning poker hand consists of a high card and a pair of high cards, or a Royal Flush. In tournaments, you must bet in order to get a Royal Flush, which is a hand of five different cards.
In tournaments, betting occurs in a series of intervals, with each player placing chips into the pot in a manner dictated by the rules of the game. Players begin by placing their chips in the pot before the dealer. The players then go around the table and make their decision as to whether they should call the bet or fold. If no one has bet before them, they can fold. When placing a bet, players must turn over their cards, which are face down, to the dealer.
In four-card hold’em, players use two hole cards and three board cards. Typically, a pair in the hole is larger than any community card on the board. If two straights are tied, the higher one wins the pot. For example, AKQJT beats KQJT9 down to 5432A. If both players have three-of-a-kinds, the winner is the highest three-of-a-kind.