Poker is a game of chance where each player’s five cards make up a hand. Players may bet into the pot, bluff, or fold. The hand with the highest ranking wins the pot. If two or more players have the same high hand, the pot is split as equally as possible.
Poker can be played with any number of players. The ideal number of players is six to eight. However, this varies depending on the game.
After the deal, a player is required to make the first bet. The dealer assigns values to the chips before the game starts.
The player who made the initial bet is said to be an active player. He can call or raise the bet. A player can also fold, or discard his hand. If he folds, he loses his right to the pot.
In the final betting round, the dealer deals four more cards. The player with the best card by suit gets an odd chip. This is called the high hand.
If two or more players have the same high card, the high card breaks ties. If no one has a pair, the high card wins.
If two or more players have the lowest hand, the highest straight wins. The player who holds the highest straight wins the pot.
In some games, the ace is considered to be the lowest card. The ace can be used to break ties when two people have the same high hand.
