Poker is a card game that is played with a standard 52-card deck. Players place bets into a central pot. The highest hand at the end of the game wins the pot.

Poker games vary in their rules and style of play. Some have pot-limit betting. They also differ in how cards are dealt. Several variations include wild cards.

Poker can be played with any number of players. The ideal number is six to eight. A typical poker game uses a single pack of cards, but some versions use two or more packs.

Each player will be dealt two cards. These are dealt face down and may be shuffled by a dealer. Another round of betting is initiated after the cards are discarded.

Players will choose to bet, raise, or fold. Folding is a player’s option to leave the table without competing for the pot. To win, a player must bet enough to match the bet made by another player. This can be done by betting the maximum amount allowed, or by raising the bet.

When a player’s hand matches the bet, he is said to call. In some games, the ace is treated as the lowest card.

Once a player has been dealt five cards, he can discard up to three. He then receives two more cards.

If he has more than one pair, the higher card wins. For example, if a pair of aces and a pair of kings are both good, the higher card wins.