Poker is a family of card games that are played worldwide. They vary in deck configuration, number of cards dealt, and rules for betting. Despite their differences, they all involve one or more rounds of betting and compare hands according to a standard hand ranking system.
Basic Gameplay
In a poker game, players are dealt five cards face down. The first betting round begins with the player to the dealer’s left, and continues in clockwise direction until all the players have a chance to bet or fold.
The player with the highest hand wins, but it can be more complicated than this. In some games, a player can discard up to three cards and receive replacements from the undealt portion of the deck.
Depending on the game rules, some players may be required to make forced bets (usually an ante or blind bet) before the cards are dealt. These bets are generally a small amount of money or a percentage of the minimum bet, and serve to ensure that every player makes an opening bet.
Poker Varieties
Most poker variations share common underlying rules and use a standard hand ranking system, though some may have more complicated strategies for playing. Some, such as Texas Hold’em, have different betting structures, while others use a no-limit or pot-limit structure. However, most have a central pot and a single betting round.