Poker is a gambling game in which players try to make the best hand. Players may use one or more cards from their hand or take new cards from the deck. The player with the highest hand at the end of the betting round wins the pot.
Players are dealt five cards, two of which are used to form their hand. They are dealt clockwise around the table.
Before the cards are dealt, a player must make a small ante. Usually, this is either $1 or $5. Once the cards are dealt, the player must decide whether to raise, fold, or call the bet. If he chooses to raise, he must place the full amount into the pot. He must also fold if he is forced to do so.
Once the cards are dealt, another betting round begins. The player to the left of the dealer button is in the first-to-act position. This person is placed immediately to the left of the big blind.
After this, the other players reveal their hands. If there is a tie, a high card breaks it. A second pair can be made by having two distinct pairs of cards plus the fifth card.
Each player can discard up to three cards. If the cards show up to be the same suit, a flush can be achieved. All four cards of the same suit are called a flush. It is possible to achieve a backdoor flush, which requires hitting a certain number of cards on the turn and the river.