Poker is a game played by a number of players, and the aim is to form the best hand. The winning hand is decided by the highest ranking card. All players contribute money to the pot. It is possible for a player to win by bluffing, or by betting their hand and making the other players fold.
Players choose actions based on probability and psychology. The first bettor is the player with the highest ranking poker combination. Depending on the variant, players may bet in a single round or in intervals.
In the initial round, all players are dealt three cards face-down. Each player has a turn to either check, call, or fold. When a player makes a call, he or she increases the stake by adding more chips to the bet in front of the player. If a player folds, he or she discards his or her hand.
In the next round, each player is dealt three more cards, which are then dealt clockwise around the table. A player who receives a jack becomes the nominal dealer.
After the fourth betting interval, a hand of hole cards is shown to the remaining players. If a tie is formed, the second highest card breaks it.
At the end of the final betting round, all players but one have folded. This is called a showdown. During this stage, the remaining player collects the pot without revealing his or her hand.
In some poker variants, the house rules limit the number of raises in a given round. This is a type of poker called pot-limit.