During poker play, each player chooses five cards to create a hand. The goal is to have the best five-card hand. The highest ranking hand wins the pot.

To begin the game, the player to the left of the button must post a small blind. After this, the dedicated dealer button moves one spot clockwise. The dealer begins to shuffle the deck.

After the cards have been shuffled, the dealer cuts the deck and deals the cards one at a time to the players. The player receiving the jack becomes the first dealer. The cards are then dealt face up, starting with the player to the left of the dealer.

After each player has been dealt a hand, the next round of betting begins. If there is a raise, play proceeds to the next round, where a showdown occurs. If there is no raise, play continues until the last player folds.

If there is a tie, the high card breaks the tie. If two players or more have a high card, the player with the highest unmatched fifth card wins the pot. If three or more people have a high card, the player with three of a kind wins the pot.

If there is a draw, the pot is divided equally among the players. All players are required to place a certain number of chips in the pot. The chips can be exchanged for cash. This can be done voluntarily, or a player may choose to bluff other players.