Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best five-card hand possible. Different forms of the game follow different rules. The game originated in the American South. In the original 5-card draw, players were dealt five cards face down and could only use those cards to form their best hand. The next popular form is 7-card stud, in which players are dealt three face-down cards and four face-up cards.

A high card is used to break ties. This happens when two players have the same-value pair. The higher of the two pairs wins. If there is no pair, the high card breaks the tie. In other cases, multiple players tie for the highest card. This is also true when the two players have high hands of the same type.

Straight flush is the best hand you can make if you have five cards of the same rank. An ace can be high or low. Then, an ace high straight flush is a Royal Flush. If you have five cards of the same suit, you will be able to win the pot. But be careful, you’ll have to ante.

The best poker strategy involves playing a range of strong hands in a tight and aggressive manner. This will mask the actual strength of your hand, making you difficult to beat. But remember to never play with a hand if you are angry, tired, or frustrated. This will save you money in the long run.