Poker is a card game in which players bet based on the value of their hand. It is one of the oldest gambling games. Players can use real money or chips to make bets. The pot is won when the player with the best hand wins.

Poker games can vary in the number of cards dealt to each player, the number of rounds of betting, and the number of players who are eligible to call. Some variations award the pot to the lowest hand.

The first player to act is called the first bettor. If no bets are made, a “check” occurs. Once the first bettor makes a bet, the rest of the players must match that bet or fold.

After the initial deal, the cards are dealt to each player in a clockwise fashion. Dealers may pass all of the cards out at once, or they may split them up into sets.

When a player receives a jack, he becomes the first dealer. He may then cut the pack and offer it to an opponent to shuffle.

During the initial dealing period, each player has a single card face-down. The cards are then shuffled and distributed clockwise around the table.

Betting is then allowed during each of the three rounds of the deal. During the third round, each player has a card face-up. At the end of this round, a final betting round is held.

The player with the highest pair is usually the winner. This is because a pair is created when two cards of the same suit are paired.