Often referred to as a type of card game, poker involves making bets on the outcome of a hand of cards. Players may use bluffing and skill to win, or they may merely bet the best hand possible.
Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck, though the number of cards is dependent on the type of poker being played. Some types of poker use a smaller number of cards, called wild cards, which may make a five of a kind or an unmatched pair. Occasionally, the joker counts as the fifth card in certain special hands.
The player with the best hand wins the pot. The game may be played with any number of players, although the ideal number is between six and eight. Most forms of poker require a player to make a compulsory bet at the beginning of the hand. The bet may be in the form of an ante or a small blind. In tournament play, professional dealers are used, which charge a small percentage of the pot.
A player’s hand is composed of five cards, with the exception of the jack of diamonds. The joker counts as the fifth ace in certain special hands. The player may discard some of the cards.
The dealer may shuffle the cards, although this is not always necessary. A player who is active may shuffle the cards himself. Usually, the player who has the last card to shuffle is the dealer. The dealer may be required to offer a shuffled pack to the other player for cut. This is known as a forced bet.
The game is played in a central pot. This pot contains all the bets made by all the players in a deal. Each player must place a certain number of chips in the pot, which is usually based on the total amount of contributions that the player before him has made.
The player who bets first is said to be the “bettor.” The player who bets a higher amount than the previous bettor is said to raise. When the last player has bet, the betting interval ends. The player who has bet a higher amount than the previous bettor must then either call, fold, or raise. The player who folds is said to check, which means that he does not compete for the pot. A player who checks is said to stay in, which means that he may continue to bluff, but may no longer compete for the pot.
The betting interval may end before the deal has concluded. This is called the “showdown”. The player who has the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. If the player with the highest-ranking hand is unable to win, the pot is awarded to the player with the next-best hand. In some poker games, players may be required to make an ante or small blind before the deal. In this case, the bettor’s contribution is equal to the ante.