Although poker is mostly a game of chance, it also has elements of skill and psychology. This primer will introduce you to the basics of poker. If you’re looking for more information, consider buying a poker book or playing with a group. Although it will cost more than reading a book, playing with other people will give you a better feel for the game. However, it is best to get started playing poker in a group if you’re just getting into the game.

When playing poker, the best hands are those that have two or more distinct pairs of cards plus a fifth card. The highest pair wins. Second pair wins ties. The high card breaks ties when no one has a pair, if more than one person has a pair of the same type, and if the hands have the same value. Likewise, a pair of aces will win the pot when you have two of a kind.

While the game has numerous variants, the basic rules are the same. A standard pack of 52 cards is used, with jokers added to the deck. The cards come in ranks from Ace, King, Queen, and Jack. Aces can be either high or low. Four suits are used to describe the cards. The top three cards in a hand are known as high, while the lower cards are low. The cards also come in suits ranging from black to red, and no suit is higher than another.