Poker is a game played with a standard pack of 52 cards. The object is to form the highest hand from the five cards that are dealt. The best hand is a straight flush. A straight flush is a five-card hand in the same suit.

Poker is usually played with 5-7 players. In Texas Hold’em, two decks of different back colors are usually used. However, some variant games use multiple packs, adding jokers.

There are many rules in poker. Most modern games include a forced bet, called an ante. This gives the pot a value from the start. Once the hand is complete, players can increase their bet.

Players can also fold their cards. They can do this if they have a weak hand. Otherwise, the player will be forced out.

The pot is divided equally among the players if a draw occurs. If there is a tie, the winner is determined by the player with the highest card.

All but one player can fold during the betting phases. After the last round of betting is completed, the player with the best hand collects the pot.

Before a hand is finished, players can discard any number of cards. The player who discards a card has to show his or her hands.

In stud poker, players can choose to play with an ante. An ante is an amount that every player must put into the pot before the hand is dealt.