Poker is a game of chance and skill, played with a standard 52-card deck. Players make bets on their hands, and can win by bluffing or by having the best hand. The winner takes home the pot, which is the sum of all the bets placed by all players during a single deal.

The game can be played in any number of players, but the ideal number is six to eight. There are many variations of poker.

The cards are dealt clockwise around the table. Each player receives one face-up card and another face-down card. Cards are then discarded and another round of betting occurs.

A showdown occurs when the highest ranking hand is revealed. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. If the hand is a pair of aces, the ace may be treated as the lowest card in the deck.

Before the first betting interval begins, each player ante up. In subsequent betting intervals, the player to the left of the big blind must raise the bet or check.

The final round of betting occurs after all players have seen their cards. Cards are discarded, and the remaining player collects the pot. This process is called a “showdown.”

In some versions of the game, a “side pot” is won by different players. These side pots can be won by a bluff or by having the best hand. Occasionally, the main pot is split between the highest and lowest hands.