Unlike other games, poker is a game of skill and chance. The goal is to create the best hand you can using your five cards. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot.
The cards are ranked Ace through Jack. The joker is the fifth ace. In some games, a joker is also a fifth card. Some games are played with a deck of 52 cards, while others use more than one deck. The number of cards in play varies from game to game, as well as the number of players.
The first player to act sits at the left side of the big blind. This is the player who has the most chips, and therefore the privilege of making the first bet. He also has the last right to shuffle the deck.
The dealer deals two cards to each player. They may be dealt face up or face down. Each player then chooses to either call or raise the bet.
The last round of betting resumes and resumes until all players have folded. When the last round of betting is over, a showdown occurs. Players reveal their hands, and the best hand wins the pot.
There are several variants of poker, each with its own card-handling rules. Some games have wild cards, which can be used to take any suit.
When players are all in, they can only win the pot to the extent of their contributions. They also have the option of calling or raising a bet, or folding. If they choose to fold, their hand is discarded. If they choose to call, their hand is shown, and the bet is placed in the pot.
