Typically, the first player to put down chips is called the dealer. The dealer’s job is to shuffle the cards, assign values to the chips, and exchange cash for chips.
The goal is to build the pot, which is a combination of the bets made by each player in a single deal. The hand with the best hand wins the pot. The pot is divided equally in case of a draw. The pot can also be won by making a bet that no other player calls.
If there are two players with the same hand, a tie is broken by the highest card. If there are three or more players with the same hand, a tie is broken by the highest card outside of four of a kind.
A straight flush is the best natural hand. A straight flush with an ace high is known as a royal flush. It is also the best poker hand.
The ace is a high card, but may be treated as a low card in some games. A straight flush ace can be high or low. A pair of kings is not a great hand off the deal, but a pair of kings is good.
When a player makes a bet, he must raise the amount by adding more to the bet in front of him. He may also make a call, which increases the amount of the bet. The bet can be made by calling, making a bet that other players haven’t made, or by bluffing by betting that he has the best hand.