Official poker is a form of casino poker played by players against the house. It is a skill-based game and teaches some important skills such as emotional stability in changing situations, fair gameplay, analytical thinking, and money management.
The main goal of each poker game is to create the best five-card hand possible using two of the three cards dealt, plus one of the community cards. The better hands are rarer and more difficult to beat than the lesser ones.
Betting rounds are used to determine the value of each player’s hands, and are completed clockwise around the table with each player either matching the maximum previous bet or folding. If no player calls, the bettor is awarded the pot, and no further involvement in the hand is required.
Card ranks from highest to lowest are ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Suit ranks are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.
Rules for breaking ties between high and low hands are usually the same as for breaking ties between cards of the same rank. This method is not to be used to decide the split of a pot, but may be used to determine who moves to a new game or seat order in a broken game.
Seating is governed by the house, and new players are not allowed to take a seat if the table has more than one available. Exceptions are made for people with special needs or to allow players to play if their table has a seat that is too small to accommodate them, such as a child’s chair.