Poker is a card game that is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. Players use these cards to create their best hand.
The basic rules of Poker are based on bluffing and misdirection, but there are many variations to the game. Most commonly, a player begins the game by placing an ante, which is a small bet that they are willing to contribute toward the pot in each round of betting.
After the ante, the dealer deals the cards in rotation to each player, one at a time. They may be dealt face up or face down.
Once all the players have their cards, they make a decision as to whether to bet or fold. If a player decides to bet, they put their chips into the pot; if they choose to fold, they discard their hand and leave the table.
Each betting interval, or round of play, begins with a bet from the player to the left. Other players may “call” that bet by putting in the same amount of chips; “raise” the amount by putting in more than enough chips to call; or “drop” (“fold”), which means putting no chips into the pot and discarding their hand.
In the final betting interval, a showdown takes place where each player’s cards are revealed to determine which hand wins the pot. The winner is the player who holds the highest hand.