Poker is a family of card games which share ancestry with French brelan and Persian as nas. It is played in private homes, casinos, and in poker clubs.
Typical poker games award the pot to the player with the highest hand. However, in some variations, the pot may be split between the lowest and highest hands. This is because a hand can have both a pair and a flush.
All poker games involve one or more rounds of betting. The final round of betting is known as the showdown. During the showdown, the cards are revealed and players evaluate their hands.
Before the game begins, all players will be dealt cards. A player to the left of the small blind is the first to act. This person must either call, raise, or fold.
The first player to act has the right to make the first bet. This bet may be a forced bet, such as ante, or a normal bet. If the first bettor raises, the other players must match the bet.
Once a bet is made, the remaining players evaluate their hands and decide what action they will take. Some players decide to check, while others decide to raise or fold. The player who folds is out of contention for the pot.
A player who raises or calls the bet is said to “raise.” This is typically the last round of betting before the showdown. The winner of the showdown is the player who has the best hand.