Poker is a family of card games that are played worldwide. Each game is unique in how it is played, but they are all based on a series of betting rounds.

In most poker games, the player who makes the highest hand at the end of the hand wins the pot. However, in some variations, the pot may split between the highest and lowest hands. A poker hand is a five-card combination that is used to win the pot. Some of the most common poker hands include straights, flushes, and four of a kind.

There are many variations of poker, but most are played with a standard deck. Players may discard a set number of cards, and they may also replace one or two of the cards they have just received.

In a typical game, a round of betting occurs after the initial draw. Cards are dealt clockwise around the table. The dealer, or house dealer, deals each player’s hand. Once the dealer has completed dealing all the cards, players can see their hands.

After the cards are all revealed, a showdown occurs. The winner takes the pot, and all but one player folds. During a showdown, a player’s hand must match the hand that was shown earlier.

If a player does not have enough chips to go all-in, they can make a forced bet. This bet is commonly called the ante. When a player calls a bet, they will match the bet amount.