Typically, Poker is played with a standard pack of cards, ranked from Ace to King. In some poker games, there are also wild cards. These cards are used to boost the ranks of a hand.
The main goal of a poker hand is to win the pot by betting until all the other players have folded. A pot can also be won by making a bet that no one else calls. The winning hand is determined by the second highest card.
Ties are broken by a high card. If several people have a pair of the same rank, the high card breaks the tie. If several people have two four of a kind of the same rank, the high card breaks a tie.
Poker requires a minimum ante. This amount varies with the type of poker you play. The ante is usually a contribution to the pot. If a player raises the ante, other players must call. Depending on the type of poker, the minimum ante may be higher than the stake.
Poker is typically played with a minimum of five players. However, the ideal number of players is between six and eight. Some games, such as stud poker, are played with a maximum of nine players.
Before each round of play, the dealer must assign a value to each chip. The value of the chips will be based on the stakes of the game.
The first player to make a bet is called the first bettor. The first bettor must make a minimum bet. A player may check, which means he does not bet, or fold, which means he has no more to contribute to the pot.