Poker is a game of cards played in gambling clubs, casinos, private homes and on the Internet. In most games, each player is dealt a hand of five cards. The aim is to form the best hand possible by betting until all other players fold.
There are dozens of different poker games, varying in rules and variations. Some have Wild Cards, while others include jokers. Most games use a standard 52-card deck, but some are more complicated.
Poker is most popular in the United States, where it has been called the national card game. Several forms of poker exist throughout the world, and the rules and regulations may vary from country to country. This article is meant as a guide to the basic rules of the game, but some local customs may be more important.
If two players have identical hands, ties are broken by the highest unmatched card. Similarly, if two or more players have the same high card, a tie is broken by the second highest card.
A player can either call, or raise, or pass. After a round of betting, the hand of each player is shown to the other players.
The player with the highest hand wins the pot. If more than one person has the same high card, a tie is broke by the next highest card. Likewise, a pair of aces beats a straight flush.
Poker is usually played with at least six to eight players, but it can be played with as few as three. It is also played with one to five or more packs of cards.