Poker is a game played by a group of people sitting around a circular table. The object of the game is to create the best possible hand from the cards that are dealt to you. A poker hand can consist of five or seven cards, with the best hand being the only one that wins the pot.
Players are first dealt two cards. They may be face up or face down. If they are face up, the player may bet or fold.
Cards are then passed clockwise around the table. After each card has been handed out, players will begin a betting phase. In some poker variations, a player may be able to discard a few cards before starting the next round of betting.
After the first round of betting, a second round of betting begins with the player with the best hand. This is called the showdown. If the two hands tie, the pot is split between the two.
If the hand is still in contention after the second round of betting, a third round of betting will begin. After the third round, the hand will be shown.
When the last round of betting is finished, the pot is collected by the player who has the best hand. It is also possible that the pot is split between the two highest hands.
For most poker games, an ante is required. The ante is usually a small amount of money, such as $5 or $1.