The game of Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involves betting. It is usually played with chips that represent money, and the amount each player puts in the pot during a round of betting depends on the rules of the variant being played.
Before the cards are dealt, one or more players, as designated by the rules of the game, must place a certain number of chips (representing money) into the pot. This amount is called the ante. Some variations of Poker require players to make blind bets in addition to or instead of an ante.
After the antes are placed, each player is dealt 2 cards face-down (hidden from the other players). These personal cards are known as the hole or pocket cards. A betting phase then begins, and the player to the left of the dealer places a bet.
A player can raise the amount of a bet by saying “raise” and placing a new chip in front of them. They can also fold if they don’t want to bet or can’t beat the current hand.
If two players have the same hand, it is a tie and any winnings are shared equally. This is because a standard poker hand has the highest rank of five consecutive cards, regardless of suit. However, some games have different ranks of hands or treat aces as wild cards, so check the specific rules of your game.