Poker is a family of card games that are played around the world. In poker, the player with the best hand wins the pot. However, in some variants, more than one player remains in contention after the final betting round.

Typical games are played with a deck of 52 cards. The dealer may shuffle the cards and distribute them one at a time to each of the players. A player’s hand is ranked by the highest single card. If the highest card is tied with the opponent’s, the tie is broken by the second highest card.

Various types of poker are played in casinos and private homes. Each game has its own set of rules. Some games are very simple while others have complex rules. Depending on the number of players and the type of game, the number of cards dealt and the amount of money involved will vary.

To begin the game, all players buy a set of chips. Chips usually come in red, blue or black, and are used to bet. Players may also be required to make an ante before the cards are dealt.

Card dealing begins with the player to the left of the dealer. During the first three rounds, the dealer deals a card to each player. After the last round, the player to the left must cut the deck and leave at least five cards.

At the end of the third round, a “showdown” is held. Players are able to view their cards and see if they have any pocket pairs.