Poker is a game of cards. In a standard game, each player has five cards. They may discard some and draw new ones. The higher-ranking card wins. If more than one person has five of a kind, the highest-ranking card wins. This is the basis for how the game is played.

The game is played around an oval or circular table. The initial dealer chooses from a shuffled deck. A player with the highest hand is the initial dealer. Players pass the button clockwise around the table after each hand. The person to the immediate right of the button shuffles and deals the cards.

During each hand, players bet at specific intervals. Ideally, they want to minimize their losses when they have poor hands and maximize their winnings when they have good hands. In some games, players are required to put in an ante before the cards are dealt. However, this practice is illegal in some states.

The limit of the game is typically two, five, or ten chips. This amount depends on the stage of the game. If the player has a pair, or a better, the limit may be increased.