Known as “the game of kings,” poker is a type of card game played with a deck of 52 cards. The player with the best hand wins the pot. If two or more players have the same hand, they divide the pot equally. In certain special hands, a joker counts as the fifth card. In other hands, wild cards (cards that don’t have a particular rank or suit) can make a five of a kind, a straight flush, or a flush.
Poker can be played with a group of players or by itself. Typically, poker players use plastic chips for bets. The chips are usually collected in the center of the table, where a “pot” is gathered. A player may win a pot by bluffing or by betting that he has the best hand. Poker players may play several betting rounds during a game. A “showdown” occurs after the last betting interval.
A standard deck of cards is used. Cards are dealt face up in rotation to the left. If a player is dealt a joker, he is said to have a “wild card.” The four deuces are also wild cards. Besides the jack of hearts, the only other card shown in profile is the king of diamonds.
The player who is dealt the jack of hearts becomes the first dealer. He is the first player to bet. The next player must match the bet or call. If he does not match the bet, he is said to fold. The player who folded is no longer in contention for the pot.
A round disc is the dealer button. It represents the nominal dealer for betting purposes. The dealer has the last right to shuffle the cards. The cards are then offered to the opponent for cut.
The dealer then begins the next round of cards. This round is called the “bet round”. After all the players have checked, the turn to bet passes from one player to the next. The dealer then collects all the bets in the center of the table.
The player who bets the most is said to “raise” the pot. If the player does not raise, he is said to “fold”. A player who folds is no longer in contention for the pot.
If all players call, a player may be said to “drop” the pot. If no one calls, the player with the highest hand wins the pot. If the player does not make a bet, he is said to “check” or stay in. This is because a bet is required to be made before the deal.
Some players are required to make an ante or chip contribution to the pot before the deal. Poker is played in a central pot that is won by the player with the highest hand value. Besides the chips, there is usually money that is exchanged for chips. The chips are generally ceramic or plastic. Poker chips are easier to handle than money.