Poker is a card game in which players try to make the best hand possible out of a dealt hand of cards. It is played with a standard 52-card deck, sometimes with the addition of one or two jokers, and may be played between players or in tournaments.
The Basics
In a typical poker game, the dealer shuffles the cards and deals them in rotation to the players one at a time. The player to the left of the dealer (known as the small blind) acts first in each betting interval by folding, calling, or raising his bet.
The Rules
Depending on the rules of the particular variant of poker being played, one or more players may be required to make forced bets before the cards are dealt. These may be in the form of antes, blinds, or bring-ins.
The First Deal
During the initial deal, each player is dealt a hand of five cards. The hands rank in inverse proportion to their probability, with the highest hand trumping the lowest.
The Next Round
After the first deal, each player is dealt another hand of five cards. The hands are dealt in a series of betting rounds, with the hands developing during the betting rounds, as they replace or add cards to their hand.
After each round, all of the bets in the pot are gathered into the central pot. The amount of money in the pot is recorded, and a current bet amount is established for each player in the betting.