The Basics of Poker

Poker is a game of cards that is played throughout the world. It is played in casinos, at home and on the Internet.

The aim of the game is to make the best five-card poker hand possible. The player with the highest hand is the winner.

A player’s hand consists of five cards, which may be any combination of the four community cards and their own two. The hand can be one pair, two pairs, three of a kind, straight, flush, or a combination of all of them.

Each player in turn must place a certain number of chips (representing money) into the pot. The first player to do so has the privilege or obligation of making the first bet.

After that, each player to the left must either “call” that bet by putting into the pot the same number of chips; or “raise,” which means putting into the pot more than enough chips to call; or “drop,” which means putting no chips in the pot, stating that they are folding, and being out of the betting until the next deal.

After the last round of betting, a showdown occurs where the hands are shown. The player with the best five-card poker hand takes the pot. If more than one player remains in contention, a second showdown occurs. Players who have remained in the pot collect the money they put into it during the first showdown. This money is then split among those still in the game.