Poker is an exciting card game which can be played with up to eight players. Players are dealt five cards and they try to form the best hand possible. The highest poker hand wins the pot. Several variations of the game are played.

In the most popular variants, each player is dealt one card face up and the dealer deals one card facing down. After the deal is complete, each player is given a turn to bet. If no other player calls, the pot is won. However, if a player does call, the player who bet first will be in charge of making the next bet.

Most games use a 52-card deck. Four cards of each suit are shuffled together and used to make a poker hand. Aces are the most valuable card in the deck.

Poker is usually played with a large round table and chairs. Players may also play over the Internet. Chips are commonly used in poker, which are easier to handle than cash. Some games also use a wild card.

In a pot-limit game, bets can be limited to a certain amount. This limit is generally twice the size of the final betting interval. When a player folds, he or she must forfeit the right to the original pot. Alternatively, a forced bet can be made.

Each player’s hand is then revealed and a showdown occurs. In some variants, the last two players still in contention can win the pot.