Poker is a family of card games which is played worldwide. A player can make up a hand using five cards from their deck. The aim is to get the best hand possible by betting until the other players fold. It is a game of chance and psychology.

There are many poker variants. Each game has its own rules. Most variations have a standard pack of 52 cards and vary in the number of cards shared by all players. Some games add jokers or wild cards to the mix.

The first round of betting begins when the dealer deals cards one at a time. The dealer may shuffle the cards before each round. Cards are dealt face-down or face-up. Depending on the game, cards can be discarded and replaced.

Another round of betting occurs after the cards have been shuffled. All players are then given new cards and can show them to determine the winner. This is often the simplest round of betting. If a player raises the bet, all betting is paused until the call has been made.

When the betting phase is complete, the player who has the highest hand wins the pot. A high card breaks ties when several players have a hand of the same type.

There is an ante (a small bet all players must make before the hand is dealt) and blinds. Depending on the game, an ante amounts to around twenty cents.

Players are allowed to call or raise the bet, and sometimes pass. However, no player can force another player to make more than their minimum bet.