Poker is a game played by groups of people around a table. The objective is to create the best hand possible. The rules vary by country and location.

The ante is a small bet that usually starts at a dollar or two. Aside from a blind bet, a player can also raise the pot, which can be done as often as the player wishes.

The showdown is when a player is forced to reveal his or her hand. The highest-ranking hand wins the prize. The player with the lowest hand is eliminated from contention.

The game is played with a circular table and a pack of cards. Players are dealt cards one at a time and use those cards to form a hand. A showdown is the climax of the game and the winner is the player with the best hand.

There are many variations of the game. For example, some games award the pot to the hand with the best card or to the player with the best five-card hand. Others split the pot between the top and bottom hands.

The best-known version of the game is known as Texas Hold’Em. This is the most popular form of poker. The game may be played with any number of players, though an ideal number is a maximum of six to eight. A pot-limit contest is held, whereby each player can bet or raise a set amount of money.

Other variations include Spit-in-the-Ocean and Three-Card Monte. Both of these games involve fewer cards than the traditional game of poker.