Poker is a card game that’s played by a group of people around a table. Each player gets five cards and tries to make the best possible hand using these cards.
The rules are simple: the player with the best hand wins the pot. Some poker variations have different rules about what types of hands win. For example, some games split the pot between the highest and lowest hand, while others consider flushes but do not consider straights.
Players start the game by placing an ante into the pot. The ante usually ranges from $1 to $5, depending on the game. When the player’s cards are dealt, the players may decide to call, raise, or fold. If they do not call, they lose the bet.
After all players have placed their chips into the pot, the dealer deals the cards. Once everyone has had their chance, the turn to bet passes from player to player.
The first bettor will bet at least the minimum amount required in the first betting interval. He may check in later betting intervals.
Ties are broken when a high card breaks a tie, when multiple people have the same card, or when no one has a pair. A high card can also break a tie when a player has two high pairs or two identical poker hands.
When a player has a high hand, he can call the ante or raise it. The amount of the call is based on the odds of calling. As the hand progresses, the bets get bigger.