Poker is a game where players place bets on the cards they hold. The goal is to make the best five-card hand. If more than one player has a hand with the same rank, the winner is determined by the high card.

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck. The cards are ranked from Ace to 10, with 10 being the highest. The player who holds the best hand wins the pot.

Before the round begins, each player must place an ante. This ante varies depending on the type of game. The player to the left of the button must post a small blind. Once the ante is placed, the dealer must deal cards to each player. The player who receives the jack becomes the first dealer.

Each player must then show their cards. They may pass, fold, or raise. If they fold, their hand is discarded. If they raise, they can add to the pot.

Once each player has shown their cards, the round begins. The players will begin betting in clockwise order. In some variants, the dealer will deal each player’s cards face-down. If a player does not open, he is said to “stand pat.”

The highest card is used to break ties. In some games, the ace is treated as the lowest card. This helps when there are multiple people with the same rank. In other games, a wild card is used to supplement any other card.