The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game that involves betting and a combination of chance and skill. The basic rules are the same for all games, but there are some differences in how the rules are applied in different games. This article is only a brief primer, and you can find more detailed information about poker in books or online. However, reading a book may be more expensive than playing poker in a live game with a group.

Each player is dealt a standard pack of 52 cards, with one or more jokers. Traditionally, the game has been played with only one pack, but sometimes two packs of different colors are used. The first is dealt to the players while the second is being shuffled. Once the cards are dealt, the previous dealer assembles the cards from the dealt pack, shuffles them, and passes them to the new dealer.

Each player must contribute to the pot before the first hand is dealt. The first player to bet is called a “bet.” The next player is known as a “call”, while the player who is right next to him or her is known as a “raise”. During the last betting interval, all active players show their full hand, and the player with the highest hand wins the pot.

If there are two players with the same hand, they split the pot, and the winning hand is determined by the highest pair in the suit. If the players are tied, the pot is split equally.