Despite being called a game of chance, poker is a skillful game. Players use their cards in different ways depending on how aggressive or passive they are.

The goal of the game is to get the best hand possible. The cards are ranked according to their suit. The highest hand will win the pot.

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck. The suits are numbered from Ace to King, and each card has four different suits. The four suits are hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs.

Poker is played in casinos and private homes. Players usually use chips as a substitute for money. Chips are easier to handle and stack than cash.

Most poker games use a 52-card deck, although some variations use more than one pack. Some games have wild cards. The wild card is a card that can take any suit.

Ties are broken when a high card breaks them. When two or more players tie for the highest card, the high card wins. For example, if Brad and Dennis tie for the highest card, the high card will be Brad’s.

Players must bet or raise the pot to keep themselves in the game. If all of the players call, the betting interval ends. The betting interval starts with the player to the left of the dealer.

A player who owes something to the pot folds. If the player does not owe anything to the pot, he or she checks.