Poker is a family of card games that are played around the world. In all poker games, players bet on the outcome of their hand.
The player with the highest hand wins the pot. Some poker variations may split the pot between the highest and lowest hands.
Most poker games are played with a standard deck of cards. The deck of cards is dealt clockwise around the table. Cards are then discarded and the next round of betting begins.
A poker hand is composed of five cards. Players can discard up to three of the cards. This hand is then evaluated by the other players. If more than one player remains in contention, a showdown occurs.
Poker is distinguished from other vying games by its use of bluffing. Bluffing is a tactic used by a poker player to trick other players into thinking that he has a good hand.
Players who have a five-card draw must make a forced bet, known as an ante. A blind bet is also possible. An ante bet is a pre-determined amount that a player has to bet in order to get the right to see the cards.
Poker games can be played with a fixed-limit, no-limit, or pot-limit structure. A fixed-limit poker game requires standardized betting amounts, while a no-limit or pot-limit game allows players to wager any amount, up to a specified limit.
The number of cards in a poker game varies, with some games using a short pack. Five-card hands are often dealt face up.