Poker is a card game where players try to make the best possible hand. Each hand is made up of five cards. The highest hand wins. A five of a kind beats a straight flush, and a pair of aces beats a straight.

Poker is played on a large table with many chairs and chips. Chips are usually red or black. They can be used for cash or exchanged for another player’s chips.

Before the cards are dealt, each player has an obligation to place a bet. If the bet is not called, the player loses all of his chips in the pot. However, if no one calls, the pot may be won by the player with the best poker hand.

Poker may be played by anyone, and can be played with any number of people. Several variants of the game exist. Typically, games limit players to eight or nine. In games with more than ten, two separate games are organized.

Before the cards are dealt, each person should be familiar with the rules of the game. Usually, each player puts in the same amount of chips. There are also special rules known as “house rules” that should be written down.

During the deal, the player is given a set of cards face down. He then has the option to raise, drop, or fold. When a player is called to raise, he must call with the same amount of chips.