Typically, poker is played by a group of people around an oval table. The players start with a set of five cards, known as a hand. The aim of the game is to make the best hand possible with these cards. The hand can be made up of three of a kind, two of a kind, or four of a kind.
The cards are dealt in a clockwise manner around the table. The player who receives the highest card is the first dealer. The next card, called the turn card, is dealt face down and the last card, called the river card, is dealt face up.
If there are no callers during the last round of betting, the hand is called a showdown. When the hand is revealed, the player who holds the highest card wins the pot. Players can bluff their opponents by betting that they have the best hand.
In order to make a bet, a player must check, call, or raise. A raise is a larger bet than the previous one. If a player raises and no other player calls, the pot is won.
In most cases, the pot is divided among players in case of a draw. In some games, the ace is considered to be the lowest card. The “backdoor flush” is achieved by hitting a card on the turn and river.
In some poker games, a player may win a side pot. The side pot is separate from the main pot, and the winner is determined by the amount of money that is bet by the remaining players. If a player wins a side pot, he or she forfeits rights to the original pot.