Poker is a card game that is played between two players. The cards are dealt from a standard 52-card pack, and jokers can be used if you prefer. It is usually played with a single pack, but some games use two packs of contrasting colors to speed things up. One pack is dealt to the dealer, while the other is shuffled. After the dealer deals the cards, the previous dealer assembles the dealt pack, shuffles it, and places it to the left. The dealer then passes the shuffled deck to the next dealer.
One rule of poker that can make or break your game is to respect your dealer and fellow players. Don’t be tempted to argue with the dealer or criticize other players. You will only make your opponents feel uncomfortable and ruin the atmosphere at the table. Also, never make fun of others’ mistakes. It’s common for dealers to make mistakes, so if you notice it, explain it politely and ask the dealer to make it right. If the dealer fails to fix it, call the floorman and let him know about the problem.
In a standard game of poker, the player with the highest-ranked hand wins. Often, this is a pair, but there are cases when the high-card hand breaks ties. If no-one else has a pair, the second highest hand wins. When more than one player has a pair, the highest card wins.