Several versions of poker exist, ranging from stud to community card games. These games have different rules and betting structures. They also vary in how cards are dealt. Typical poker games are played using a 52-card deck. Most games use the standard pack, which has four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.

Some games use more than one pack, allowing players to make multiple combinations. Some games are played with a wild card, which allows players to make five-of-a-kind hands. Some poker games are also played with jokers, which allow players to make any suit.

Poker is also played with chips, which are easier to stack than cash. Most games have a fixed limit on the amount that players can bet. This limit is usually twice as high as the initial bet. Some games allow players to make forced bets. These are sometimes called ante or blind bets. These are often used to bluff other players.

When there are more than one player in contention, the pot is won by the player with the highest hand. Some games have different rules about who wins the pot. Some allow the pot to be divided between the highest and lowest hands.

The first player to act is called the dealer. The dealer button, also known as the buck, is a white plastic disk. It is placed on the table at the left side of the big blind.

After the first round of betting, the dealer “burns” one card from the top of the deck. The cards are then distributed to all players one at a time.