Generally speaking, poker is a game of chance. The aim of the game is to have the best hand. The winning hand consists of five cards, which are ranked from Ace to king. Depending on the specific rules of the game, there may also be wild cards.

The highest card in the hand will usually determine the winner. This is particularly true in a tie, when several people have the same highest card. The best five-card hand is only allowed in a 7-card stud game.

There are many variations of poker, but most include two decks of cards, each containing 52 cards. These cards are shuffled by the dealer and distributed to each player one at a time. Each player can discard up to three cards.

Each round of the game consists of two phases: the first is called the draw phase. The second is called the betting phase. In the draw phase, each player receives his or her complete hand. The cards are dealt face down or face up.

The last betting round consists of a final showdown. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

Aside from the standard pack of 52 cards, there are some variants of poker which use a variety of cards, including jokers, to add to the fun. These games are typically played with a maximum of 5-7 players.

A “backdoor flush” is a flush achieved by hitting the right cards in the turn and river.