Poker is a popular card game that comes in various variants, with Texas Hold’em being one of the most commonly played versions. Here, I’ll explain the general rules of poker, along with the different poker hands in descending order of strength:

Objective: The objective of poker is to win chips or money by either having the best hand at showdown or by convincing other players to fold their hands.

Card Values:

• The standard deck of 52 playing cards is used.
• The cards are ranked from highest to lowest: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
• All suits are of equal value in poker.

Gameplay:

1. Blinds and Ante:
   
   • In some games, players are required to make forced bets known as “blinds” before the cards are dealt. The player to the dealer’s left posts the “small blind,” and the next player posts the “big blind.” Blinds are used to create initial money in the pot. In other games, there may be an “ante” instead of blinds, where all players contribute a small amount to the pot before the deal.
2. Hole Cards:
   
   • Each player is dealt private cards face down, known as “hole cards.” The number of hole cards and the betting structure depend on the poker variant being played.
3. Betting Rounds:
   
   • Betting rounds occur between dealing community cards, and players have the option to fold (discard their hand and forfeit the round), check (pass the action to the next player), bet, call (match the current bet), or raise (increase the bet). The number of betting rounds varies based on the poker variant.
4. Community Cards:
   
   • In some poker variants, community cards are dealt face-up on the table and are shared by all players to form their hands. The most well-known variant with community cards is Texas Hold’em.
5. Showdown:
   
   • If two or more players remain after the final betting round, there is a showdown. Players reveal their hole cards, and the best five-card hand wins the pot.

Poker Hands (in descending order of strength):

1. Royal Flush:
   
   • A, K, Q, J, 10 – all of the same suit.
2. Straight Flush:
   
   • Five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 of hearts).
3. Four of a Kind:
   
   • Four cards of the same rank (e.g., four Kings).
4. Full House:
   
   • Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank (e.g., three Queens and two Fives).
5. Flush:
   
   • Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence (e.g., any five hearts).
6. Straight:
   
   • Five consecutive cards of different suits (e.g., 10 of spades, 9 of hearts, 8 of clubs, 7 of diamonds, 6 of hearts).
7. Three of a Kind:
   
   • Three cards of the same rank (e.g., three Jacks).
8. Two Pair:
   
   • Two sets of two cards of the same rank (e.g., two Kings and two Sevens).
9. One Pair:
   
   • Two cards of the same rank (e.g., two Aces).
10. High Card:

• If no player has any of the above hands, the player with the highest card in hand wins. If players tie, the second-highest card is considered, and so on until a winner is determined.

These are the basic rules of poker and the hand rankings used in most variants. However, different poker games may have additional rules or variations, so it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the specific rules of the variant you’re playing. Remember that poker involves strategy, reading opponents, and managing risks, making it a fascinating and skillful game enjoyed by players of all levels.