Typical poker games are played with 5-7 players. However, there are hundreds of variations of poker. Most games involve a blind bet or forced bet.
A poker hand is the combination of five cards, with the highest-ranking hand being the one that wins the pot. In some variant games, the highest card is paired with a specific wild card. A straight flush is five cards in the same suit.
A poker hand may consist of a straight, two pair, three of a kind, four of a kind, or five of a kind. The best hand is a flush. A straight flush can occur with an ace high or low.
Ties are broken by the high card. If multiple players have the same high card, the ties are broken by the second pair. A pair of kings is not that good off the deal, but it does the trick.
In some poker variants, the cards are dealt face down. A player may also choose to shuffle the cards. Alternatively, the dealer may create a community card pile.
A poker hand is only considered to be the best hand when the five cards in the hand are a winning five card combination. A five card flush is a good hand, but a straight flush is even better.
An ace high straight-flush is called a royal flush. The best straight flush can occur with an ace high, but it cannot wrap around a K-A-2-3-4.