Poker is a card game in which players use five cards to form their hand. In most games, the best hand wins the pot. However, some variants allow for splitting the pot between the highest and lowest hands.

Poker can be played with any number of players, though the optimal number is six to eight. Most poker games are played with a standard 52-card pack. Some versions, however, may add jokers to the deck.

The cards are dealt face down. Players can then evaluate their hand. They can also bet, replace cards, or bluff. When it comes time for the final betting round, a showdown occurs. During the showdown, each player shows his or her hand.

To play, each player buys a certain amount of chips. This is known as the ante. It can be a blind bet or a forced bet.

Each player is dealt five cards, but can reshuffle or replace a few. Players can discard up to three cards.

A player who does not fold is said to “drop.” If he or she drops, the player surrenders his or her rights to the original pot. Another player may win the side pot.

After the cards are discarded, the next player can check or raise. If a player has a pair of kings, he or she might not want to bet.

In some games, the ace is treated as the lowest card. These games are usually called Pot Limit Games. Customarily, the maximum limit is placed on the amount of bets.