Poker is a popular gambling game in which players place bets based on the value of a hand of cards. Poker players normally use poker chips that are typically made of plastic or ceramic, but real money is also used for betting. While real money is easier to handle, poker chips are more convenient for players to manage and are easily exchanged for cash when the game is over. Also, poker chips can be easily counted to determine the order of winners and losers.
In a typical game of poker, each player is dealt five cards. The player who has the best five-card hand wins the pot. However, in some games, players can pass without betting and may choose to discard one or more cards to improve their hand. If a player has a better hand than the other players, he may call and raise his bet.
The highest hand in poker is considered the high hand, while the lowest hand wins the odd chip. When two players tie, the pot shall be split as evenly as possible. If two players have the same high and low-hands, the odd chip is awarded to the player with the highest-valued card by suit.
In a tie, the winning hand is the highest-ranked hand with five cards of the same suit. This hand is called a straight flush. In poker, any five-card hand that includes an ace can be high or low. A high-ranking card, however, can also break a tie.
