The object of poker is to make a high-value poker hand. The value of a hand depends on how many cards are in the deck. The game can be played with up to five players, with six or eight considered ideal. The players compete for the pot, which is the total amount of bets made by all the players in a single deal. To win the pot, a player must have the highest-ranking poker hand or make a bet that no other player calls.

The objective of poker is to form the highest-ranked hand possible. This is done by betting until all other players have been eliminated. The player with the highest hand is the winner of the pot. In case of a draw, the pot is divided evenly between the players. If there are no ties in a hand, the players are allowed to continue betting until only one player has a winning hand. This is referred to as the showdown.

The betting intervals in poker are called rounds. Each player is allowed to raise his stake only up to a specific limit. After three or four rounds of betting, the stakes are too high, forcing a player to fold. However, in some games, it is customary to allow players to raise their stakes, even if it increases the total pot. This is because of the danger of losing the entire pot to the lowest-ranking player.