Poker is a family of card games played around the world. Each game has its own set of rules, however, all involve one or more rounds of betting. Players evaluate their hands, make forced bets and try to come up with the best possible hand.

The best hand in poker is the highest ranking five-card combination. A straight is a sequence of five cards of the same suit. When two players have a straight, it wins.

The most obvious poker variant is the Texas Hold’em version of the game. Each player is dealt five cards, two in front of them and three on the table. Cards may be shuffled or face down.

There are a number of betting structures, but the most common are fixed-limit and no-limit. Both require standardized amounts for raising.

The pot is a combined sum of all bets made by all players in one deal. In most games, the player with the highest ranking hand wins the pot.

To start the game, all players place a small bet, called the ante. This is usually a nominal amount, such as $1 or $5.

Each player is then given a turn to bet. After each turn, each player is dealt another round of cards. As each card is dealt, the next bettor is able to see its contents and decide whether to call, raise or fold.

For some variants, players may be required to put up a bet before the first hand is dealt. These are called “table stakes”. Table stakes are a way to prevent players from wagering more than they actually have.