Poker

Traditionally, Poker is a group game played on an oval or circular table. Players buy chips and then bet against each other. The person with the highest hand at the end of a round wins the pot. If two people have identical hands, the one with the highest card breaks the tie.

In order to play Poker, each player must make a bet. The bet is usually a small one, ranging from $1 to $5. This amount is called the ante. The ante may be set by the table or by the player.

A player who does not make a bet is said to fold. The bet may be raised or checked. The player who folds is not entitled to any of the kitty chips that belong to the rest of the players.

A player may bluff by betting that they have the best hand. A bluff is considered illegal in fixed limit games, but is allowed in stud and draw poker.

The player who places the first bet is called the active player. If a player folds before the end of the game, the player is not entitled to any of the kitty.

Several betting intervals are used during a single round. Each interval begins with a player bet and continues until everyone folds. A showdown follows, where all bets are gathered into a central pot.

A pair of aces is the lowest hand. A flush is five cards of the same suit in any order. A straight is five cards in sequential order.