Poker is a card game played by a number of players, usually six to eight. The player with the best hand wins the pot. A poker hand can consist of any five cards. However, the lowest possible hand is seven-five-four-three-two in two or more suits.
Before the game begins, each player has the opportunity to purchase chips. These are usually white, black or red in color. They can be placed in the pot voluntarily or forced by the other players.
Players receive their cards face up, or they can shuffle their own. Card deals are usually done in three rounds, each distributing one card face up to each active player.
At the end of the second round, a betting interval is held. This period of betting ends when all the players have checked their cards. If no one has checked, the dealer cuts the cards from the pack and passes them to the next player.
After the third betting interval, a showdown is held. All players are then given a chance to reveal their hands.
When the showdown is completed, the pot is won by the player with the best hand. In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by the highest card.
Poker is often played with a standard 52-card pack. Sometimes, jokers are added to the pack.
The game is played with a limit on the amount of chips each player can have in the pot at any time. Players are allowed to discard up to three cards.