Poker is a game of skill and chance. The main goal is to build the best hand you can using the cards that you have. However, it is also possible to win the pot by making a bet that no one else calls.
Before the game begins, the dealer assigns each player a value for his or her chips. These are usually dark blue, black or green and range in value from 10 to 25 whites.
Each player gets a hand of five cards. They may be face up, down or in rotation.
When it is time to make a bet, the player who has the best poker combination wins the pot. If there are ties, a high card breaks the tie. For example, if two people have four of a kind with the same rank, the higher one will break the tie.
Players can bet in one or more rounds, and they can choose whether to check or to raise. Checking is considered a stay-in, and the betting interval ends when all players have checked. A raise is a bet made more than the previous one.
During the showdown, the players’ hands are revealed to everyone. The highest hand wins the pot, and the lowest hand is discarded.
In most variants, there are betting intervals. During these periods, the dealer shuffles and cuts cards. During this time, all players are required to place their chips in the pot. This is called the ante.