Poker is a type of gambling game where players bet against each other based on the cards they have. The highest-ranked hand wins the pot.

There are several different variations of the game. Each variation has different rules, cards and betting intervals. However, the basic game is played using the standard 52 card deck.

In a standard game, a dealer deals five cards to each player. They are then dealt face up. The first bettor, or the person with the best poker combination, has the obligation of making the first bet.

Players may discard up to three cards during the betting phase. When all but one player is still in the game, the player with the best hand is the winner of the pot.

Poker games generally have a minimum and maximum limit. The minimum limit is usually two or more times the total bet. If the player has exposed pairs, the limit is doubled.

If a tie occurs, the high card breaks the tie. When there is a tie, the second player with the highest card in a pair wins.

Poker is commonly played with a pack of 52 cards. In some variants, a player can use wild cards, called jokers, to boost their hand. Some variant games use multiple packs of cards.

Players can also win side pots. These are special pots that are awarded to players who are not in the main pot. Once a player has been dropped out of the pot, he or she loses all rights to the original pot.