Whether played at home, in casinos, or in the World Series of Poker, poker is a card game that is played by many people worldwide. There are numerous variations, but the basic rules are the same. The goal of the game is to make the best possible hand with five cards, based on the values of the cards. The player with the highest ranking poker combination wins the pot. A pair of aces is the lowest possible hand, while a straight is the best possible.

Before the hand is dealt, each player must make a small ante bet. The ante gives the pot a value immediately. The ante is usually made with plastic chips or ceramic chips, but it can also be real money.

Once all players have deposited their chips, the first bettor is required to make a minimum bet, but he can decide to check or raise at any time. The second bettor is then required to match the first bet. The third bettor is then required to raise or call a previous bet, depending on the size of the pot. The fourth bettor is then required to check or fold, which means he does not want to bet. After the last bettor has made his bet, the betting interval is complete.

In a pot-limit game, the maximum amount a player can bet is customarily set. In this type of game, the pot is the aggregate of all the bets made by all the players during a single deal. The pot can be won by the player with the highest-ranking poker hand, but the pot may also be won by the player who makes a bet that no one else calls.

A hand containing two aces and a King is called an “Aces full of Kings,” and a hand containing two Aces and two King is called a “full house.” A “backdoor flush” is a hand that is created by hitting a needed card on the turn and river. A pair of aces is considered a strong hand, but a five-of-a-kind is the best. In a game with a fixed-limit, a player is not allowed to bet more than the limit, unless he has a very strong hand.

In a pot-limit game, a player must place a certain number of chips in the pot. He may then raise or call a previous bet, or he may bet the same amount again. Usually, the maximum limit for bets is twice the value of the pot.

A player who bets all of his chips into the pot is said to be all-in. This is only applicable to the pot to which the player contributed. If the player folds, he is eliminated from the competition for the pot.

If a player is all-in before the final betting round, his hand reaches a showdown. If he does not, his hand will remain face-down. The players then compare their hands and whoever has the better hand wins.