Poker is a card game which is popular in most parts of the world. It is played with a group of five to seven players. The aim of the game is to have the best hand of cards.

Players play the game in private homes, casinos, and on the internet. Most games involve the ante or blind bet.

The player with the highest ranked poker hand wins the pot. This happens during a showdown. If two or more players have the same poker hand, the tie is broken by the highest unmatched card.

In a game of three or more players, the jack becomes the dealer. The first player to the left of the dealer bets the amount he has to start the game.

In the next round, all but one player can fold. A player who is forced out is not entitled to any chips in the kitty.

Each player places a certain number of chips into the pot. In the case of a draw, the pot is divided among the remaining players.

During each betting interval, each player is required to make a bet. Generally, each player puts in the same number of chips, although some players may choose to shuffle their hand and add more chips to their stake.

After the first round, the dealer deals the cards to the players. The cards are dealt face up. Depending on the rules, the dealer might be allowed to shuffle or not.