Poker is a game of chance where players bet into a pot and then try to make a hand. The highest hand wins the pot.

Poker is played with a deck of 52 cards. The dealer deals a set of cards to each player. These may be face down or face up.

A poker hand is a combination of five cards. If two or more players have the same hand, then a tie is broken by a high card.

A straight is a five-card hand containing five cards in order. Two straights of the same value may split the pot.

A flush is a straight flush containing five cards in the same suit. It is sometimes used as a final showdown.

The best poker hand is a five-card straight. In some games, the ace is treated as the lowest card.

Poker is a popular gambling activity in North America. It is most commonly played in private homes and casinos. Some variant games add jokers or wild cards.

When the cards are dealt, the player with the highest ranking combination is the first bettor. This is known as the big blind. He or she must put in the amount of chips required to call the previous bet.

Players who have good hands may raise their wager to continue. They will then be dealt a new set of cards from the top of the deck.

Most poker games use a standard ranking system. For example, a straight containing five cards is ranked the same as a royal flush.