Poker is a card game in which players try to create two pairs of cards. The highest pair wins. If no one can form two pairs, the second highest pair wins. In cases of ties, the high card is used to break the tie. In some cases, the highest pair wins, as well as the highest hand of the same type.

Poker can be played with any number of players, but six to eight players are preferred. The total money bet by all players in one deal is called the pot. To win the pot, you must have the highest poker hand, or be the first player to make a bet without any calls. The player who is the first to make a bet is known as an active player.

In a game of poker, every player has two cards: a hole card and a board card. In four-card hold’em, the hole card is bigger than the community card on the board. If the hole card is bigger than the board card, you have a pair. Otherwise, you are a loser.

There are hundreds of variants of poker. Each casino has its own rules and betting structure, but the basic principles remain the same. Players start the game by placing an ante, or buy-in, before being dealt their cards. After they have received their cards, they must decide whether to bet, fold, check, raise, or call.