Poker is a game that can be played by a single person or many players. The object of the game is to make the best possible hand out of five cards. Some games also allow the use of wild cards.

Unlike other card games, poker uses a standard deck of 52 cards. Depending on the particular game, cards may be dealt face up or down.

To begin a hand, the player must place a small bet in the pot. This is called the ante. Most games require a small amount, such as $1 or $5.

In some games, the ante is fixed. Other games split the pot between the highest and lowest hands. Usually, the players will bet in a clockwise fashion until the final round of betting occurs.

When there are ties, the high card breaks them. If a player has a pair of kings, and another player has a pair of jacks, the jacks break the tie.

Players can make a bet by calling or raising. They can also choose to check. After a player has a hand, the dealer deals cards to the left of that player in a rotation.

When there are no ties, the highest hand wins the pot. This is typically done by using the highest card, although some poker variations may not consider this.

Poker games can be played with as few as one player or as many as eight. The ideal number is six to eight.