Poker is a card game in which players bet that they have the best hand, and other players either call the bet or fold. The game incorporates elements of chance, psychology, and game theory. In addition, players may use bluffing to win by betting that they have a superior hand when in fact they do not.

A standard poker deck consists of 53 cards. In most games the joker is not used, but if it is, it counts as an ace and may be used to complete certain hands (such as a straight or flush). A pair is two distinct cards of the same rank, and three of a kind is three cards of the same rank in consecutive order. A full house is a three of a kind and two pairs, and a straight is five cards in consecutive order of the same suit. The highest possible hand is five of a kind, which beats any other hand. Ties are broken by the highest unmatched cards or secondary pairs (in a full house).

The turn to deal and place bets passes clockwise from player to player until everyone has passed. A player may open by raising the ante and placing one or more bets. A player may also choose to check, in which case he or she remains in the pot without placing a bet. In the event of a tie, the winnings are split evenly among the players.