Poker is a card game that involves betting. While it is largely a game of chance, it also involves a certain amount of skill and psychology. This basic primer will provide you with a basic understanding of the rules and strategy involved. If you want to learn more, you can purchase a poker book or play poker with a group of friends.

Before a hand is dealt, each player must place an ante, or “pre-bet”, to start the game. This ante is usually the minimum amount of money to bet. It is important to remember that the minimum ante is dependent on the stakes of the game. This amount may vary from one poker variation to the next, but in general, the more players there are, the higher the stakes.

The highest-ranking hand wins. Depending on the game being played, a player’s hand could be a high or low-rank pair. The joker has limited wildness, but is still counted as an ace. In a high-ranking straight, the joker may count as the fifth wild card.

The dealer will then burn a burn card or re-deal the deck. If a player has a bad hand, they can always declare.