Poker is a game of chance, where players compete against each other in order to achieve the best hand possible. It is one of the most popular games in the world, and is played in private homes, casinos and clubs throughout the globe. There are many variations of the game, ranging from simple to complex.

In a standard game of poker, each player is dealt five cards. These cards are dealt face up. The aim is to make the best possible hand, using these five cards.

Each of the five cards can be of different suits. The highest ranking five card hand wins the pot. Players may also win side pots, which are separate pools of money.

A pot is the aggregate of all the bets made by all the players in the game. If two or more players call the opening bet, the pot plays.

One of the basic rules of the game is that each player is responsible for placing a certain amount of chips into the pot. This figure is usually determined by the table.

Poker games vary in the number of cards and the number of betting intervals. Typically, there is a minimum amount of betting before the flop, a limit for the draw, a final limit for the final betting interval, and a small amount of betting for the final betting round.

A typical variant will involve at least two decks of cards with the backs of the cards in different colours. The ante is the small bet all players must make before the cards are dealt.