Basically, poker is a game of chance. Players are dealt five cards face down and bet into a pot. The highest hand wins the pot. There are a few variants of poker, but the rules are the same.

Typically, a standard deck of poker cards contains 52 cards. Each card is ranked from Ace to Ace, with the ace being the highest ranking card. The dealer has the last right to shuffle the deck.

The earliest version of poker in Europe may have originated in Persia. It is believed to have evolved into a new version of primero, a Spanish game, in the 17th century.

The earliest poker games were played with a flop, which is a set of five cards. The player who is dealt the jack becomes the first dealer. The cards are then mixed with the rest of the deck. The player to the left of the dealer has the small blind.

The next betting interval occurs. This is followed by a showdown, which is a showdown between the two dealers. If no one calls, the pot is won by the highest hand.

The lowest possible hand is 6-4-3-2-A. In two or more suits, the lowest possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2. The highest possible hand is a five of a kind.

Two people may tie for the high hand. If they do, the high card breaks the tie. If there are more people tied, the ties are broken by a secondary pair.