Poker is a card game where players compete against each other to make the best hand. The game consists of betting intervals in which the players have to minimize losses when they have bad hands and maximize their wins when they have good hands. In addition, some poker variants require players to put in an ante before the cards are dealt out.

To make a hand, you need two distinct pairs of cards, plus the fifth card. The highest pair wins. If there are ties, the second pair wins. If you have more than two pairs of the same type, the highest card wins. In some cases, the highest card breaks ties. To break ties, it is possible to have a pair of five-cards.

In poker, the winner of a hand may share the money with other players who have the same cards. If they agree, players can also win a portion of the money if they are left in the game. However, you can’t split the pot if you have the lowest cards. This makes split pot poker one of the easiest games to learn.

Before a round begins, players may have to make a bet. The player who bets first is known as the bettor. Then, the player who calls or raises is known as the caller. The player who bets more than the previous bettor is said to be the raiser. The player who checks the card is known as the “checker.” A player may also decide to fold.