Basically, poker is a game of chance. The object of the game is to get the best hand. This is determined by your cards and the cards in the pot. It is also possible to use your skill to bluff your way to victory.

Before the game begins, a player posts a small blind and a big blind. The dealer then deals each player seven cards. The cards may be face down or face up.

The player who has the best card is the winner. In a tie, the highest card breaks the tie. Similarly, the highest pair of cards wins. In a tie, the highest unmatched fifth card wins. The straight flush starts with the highest value card.

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck. Some variant games use two or more decks of cards, whereas others use a wild card. The rules for each variant vary, but the basic principle is the same.

The first round is called the draw phase, and each player is dealt a card one at a time. Each player then has to wager before discarding their cards. The pot remains on the table for the next hand. The betting phase continues until all but one player folds. Then it is time to call. If all the remaining players call, the game moves to the showdown.

The showdown is the last round of betting. It is when all the players reveal their cards and determine the winner. This is the most important part of the game. The winner takes the pot and the other players can choose to check or fold.