Poker is a card game in which players bet against each other. They must ante an amount that varies depending on the game they are playing, and then bet into the pot in the center of the table. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. Betting is done in clockwise order, and each player has two or four chances to raise or call, or fold.
The objective of the game is to create the best hand possible from the cards in the deck. This is often done by betting until other players fold and the pot is divided between the players. Eventually, the best hand is revealed, and the winner of the hand takes the entire pot. The stakes are agreed upon at the start of the game.
Each round begins with a player’s bet, which must be matched by another player. Each player then raises the bet by the same amount. When all players raise their bets, they must drop their discard hand. This action is called a forced bet. The dealer then deals the cards to the players one at a time.
The best hand is the straight flush, which is 5 cards of the same rank and suit. However, an ace can be either high or low. If more than one person has a straight flush, the higher card wins the hand.