Poker is a family of card games. All poker variants are played with cards, and each player attempts to form the best possible five-card hand. The winning hand is determined by the highest card that cannot be broken with a second card.

Most poker games use a 52-card deck. Each deck contains four suits – cards numbered from Ace through King. A 52-card deck has a total of four cards in each suit. In some variations, a wild card, known as the joker, is included.

The game begins with a dealer. The dealer deals the cards to the players, facing up. After a player has been dealt a card, the player must announce whether they are playing or not.

Players may either fold or bet. If they are betting, they must make a minimum bet. If they are folding, they must discard their hand. Some players bluff by betting that they have the best hand. This is called a forced bet. Other players must match the bet.

When the cards are face up, the players must know which hand is the winning hand. They can check, call, or raise.

Cards are then dealt in a clockwise manner. After a round of dealing, a second round of betting is conducted. During the second round of betting, all but one player folds. However, if more than one player remains in contention, a showdown occurs. Once the hands are revealed, players earn points and the highest card wins.