Poker is a family of card games in which players bet over which hand is best. The game is played worldwide, with varying rules.

Poker requires skill and can be played socially for pennies or matchsticks, or professionally for thousands of dollars. It is a gambling game, and players must keep records of their winnings to avoid taxation.

Generally, the player to the left of the dealer deals one card face-up. After the first deal, a betting interval follows, and several more rounds are played.

After each round, the hands of all active players are displayed in a showdown. The player who has the highest-ranking poker combination in his faceup cards wins the pot.

The game is usually played with a standard 52-card deck, sometimes with jokers. In many clubs and among professional poker players, two packs of contrasting colors are used to speed up the process.

Poker is a game of chance, but it also involves skill and psychology. To be successful, players must know how to play each card combination and decide when to bluff.

How to Play

To begin a hand, the player to the right of the dealer must ante a fixed amount. Then he must place his cards into the pot and call, or raise, when someone else calls or raises. If he does not call, he folds his hand.