Poker is a card game of chance in which players compete to make the best hand. This is based on the relative rank of each player’s cards, which is determined by their odds (probability).
The basic rules are that each player receives five initial cards and that the players in clockwise rotation must place an ante into the pot prior to the cards being dealt. The player who is first to act in a round of betting (called the dealer) deals the initial cards.
Each player can make a bet at any time in a betting interval, either by “calling” by putting into the pot the same number of chips as the previous player, or by “raising” by putting into the pot more than the amount called for by the previous player.
When a player raises, they increase the amount of chips put into the pot, and each player to the left must call that bet, or they must fold. If a player folds, they must discard their hand and are out of the betting until the next deal.
In most variations of the game, a set of 52 cards is used, usually two decks of different back colors are dealt. A player can use wild cards, known as jokers, to augment their hand or to substitute for other cards.
Each player’s hand is ranked by their rank of cards, which is determined by their odds (probability). The highest hands are aces or better, while a pair of jacks is considered to be a high hand.