Poker is a game of chance, where players try to form the best possible hand from their five cards. In poker, the best hand wins the pot. A pair of aces is the lowest hand, and a flush is five cards of the same suit.
Players receive five cards face up. One player has the responsibility of making the first bet. Normally, the ante is a small amount, such as $1 or $5. If a player wishes to bet more than the previous bettor, he or she raises the bet.
The next round of betting begins when the cards are revealed. Each player must decide whether to fold, raise, or check.
When all players have checked, the antes and bets are accumulated and distributed into a central pot. During this period, each player will evaluate their hands. Some games will award a side pot to a different player.
After evaluating, the player who has the highest unmatched card wins. Two players can tie for the highest hand. For example, a hand of two aces beats a hand of seven-five-four-three.
Alternatively, players can choose to bluff. By bluffing, a player may win the pot by playing a hand that is unlikely to win. This is known as a wild card.
Poker can be played with any number of players. However, the ideal number is around six or eight. Traditionally, two decks of different back colours are used. It is also possible to use a 52-card English deck.