Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best 5-card hand possible. The highest hand wins the pot. The game is based on probability, strategy and psychology.
The game starts with a player “anteing” (putting a small amount of chips in the pot, usually a nickel). Next, each player is dealt 2 cards face-down and 3 face-up cards at the center of the table.
Betting begins with the player to the left of the ante, and continues clockwise until all players call or fold. After betting, the hand is flipped over and another round of betting takes place with each player making a new bet.
When a player calls, they match the bet or raise made by the person to their right. When a player raises, they increase the amount of money in the pot.
Some games have a fixed maximum amount that can be raised, known as a limit. This limits the total amount of money that can be bet or raised in each round.
Rules vary by game, but most Poker games use a standard deck of 52 cards and are played with 5 cards per hand. The cards are ranked from high to low, and are suited (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs) except for the ace, which is not a suit but is used as a wild card.
Some games have a special rule about how the winnings are divided among the remaining players after the game is over. This rule is called a kitty, and it may be set up by unanimous or majority agreement.