Although the rules of poker can change greatly based on the variation being played, some basic ideas are always the same. Depth of Strategy & Hand Ranking. Depending on how strong they believe their hand toanimal-themed slots be in comparison to their opponents', players alternately bet, check, raise, or fold. When deciding who wins a showdown, a standard hand ranking system is employed, with the strongest hand being the royal flush and the weakest being the high card. Poker's psychological components give it strategic depth; players must read their opponents' betting patterns and actions in addition to assessing their own hands.