Poker is a card game that is played by a group of people around a circular table. Each player has a set of cards, and each player’s goal is to create the best hand possible.

The player who holds the highest card wins the pot. Players who have ties can break them by placing a high card on the table. A straight is five consecutive cards. When two or more players have a pair of the same kind, a third card breaks the tie.

The first round of betting occurs after a new round of cards is dealt. After each round, all bets are collected in a central pot.

After the initial dealer has cut the deck, the player to the left of the big blind is the first to act. This player can raise or check.

If nobody makes a bet, the remaining player collects the pot without revealing their hand. During this time, each player may discard up to three cards.

After the final betting round, the pot is awarded to the player with the highest hand. In some games, the pot is split between the highest and lowest hands.

To play, players must place a minimum ante. Usually, this is a bet of $1 or $5. They must also raise and fold.

The ante is a small, voluntary bet. Before the game starts, the dealer assigns values to the chips. Typically, the chip that is worth the least is the white or blue chip.