The Basics of Poker

Poker

Poker is a card game that is played by two or more players. The number of players in a game of poker varies, but the ideal number is between six and eight. Players bet money onto a pot, which is the total of all bets during the course of a hand. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot. In the event of a draw, the money in the pot is divided evenly among the other players.

In some poker variants, each player must contribute to the pot before betting. The first player to make a bet is known as the “bettor,” while the second player to make a bet is known as a “call.” After the first bet, each player must place a number of chips into the pot equal to that of the players before them. Once a player places chips into the pot, he is said to be an “active player.”

A high hand consists of two pairs of cards. If both players have a pair, the higher pair wins. If two players have a low hand, the second highest hand wins. If no player has a pair, the high card breaks ties. A high card will break a tie if it is higher than a pair or the two highest cards of the same kind.