Poker is a betting game that involves players using cards to form the best hand. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot.

Players can win by bluffing, announcing their hand, or making a forced bet. The rules are different for each variant.

In the beginning, each player puts in a small bet called the ante. The bet is usually $1 or $5. This gives the pot value right away. Then the players place bets towards the pot in clockwise order. The bets are gathered into a pot, which is the aggregate of all the bets made during the round. Then the players decide if they want to keep betting or fold.

Each player then has five cards in his or her hands. The best hand is a straight, which is five cards in sequential order. Some games allow wild cards to be used in a hand, which may give the highest-ranking hand.

All poker hands are composed of five cards, although some games allow more. The lowest-ranking hand is 6-4-3-2-A. A flush is five cards of the same suit in any order. The Royal Flush is a straight flush with an Ace high.

The first round of betting begins with the person to the left of the button. He or she is responsible for placing the small blind and the big blind. The blinds are used to provide a way for the other players to chase.

The dealer cuts the cards and deals them to each player one at a time. The cards may be face down or face up.