Poker is a gambling game that involves cards. Players use five cards to make a hand, and the highest hand wins the pot. Depending on the game, each player may be required to put in a certain amount of money before the hand begins. This is called an ante.

The standard poker deck contains 52 cards, with the highest card being the ace. Some variants of the game use more than one pack. In addition, some games include wild cards.

Before a hand starts, a poker dealer will assign a value to each chip. This is usually based on the stakes of the game. Then, the first player to bet is the one to start the game. The player who bets most is known as the caller.

The cards are then distributed to each player. The back hand is closest to the player, and the front hand is farther from the player.

The betting interval starts with the player with the highest ranking poker combination. In later betting intervals, a second player may check. The betting interval ends when all players have checked.

If there are two or more players with identical hands, ties are broken by the highest unmatched card. For example, if there are two people with two four of a kind, the high card wins. The ace breaks ties, even if it is low.

A player may win by bluffing. He may bet that he has the best hand, and if he does, he wins the pot. He may also fold, and remove his cards from the table.