Poker is a card game where the players try to get the best possible hand. The winning hand is determined by having the highest-ranking combination of cards. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, but some variations may include jokers. Each card has a value, from ace to ten. The highest-ranking card is called the ‘highest card’ and is worth the most money. The game is played between five and seven players. Depending on the rules of the game, the player must put a bet.

Players may double their stakes several times during the game. The house rules usually allow this for a short period of time. However, after three or four raises, the stakes can become so large that the player may be forced to leave the table for lack of funds. For this reason, historical poker house rules restrict players from doubling their stakes beyond the previous raise.

There are many variations of poker. Five-card poker, for instance, has ten basic ways to win. For example, a straight is five cards of the same suit in sequential order, while a flush is five cards of the same suit in any order. The goal of this game is to get the best possible hand and beat the other players to the pot.

In poker, there are also limits on the number of chips a player can bet. The limit may be two, five, or ten. These limits vary depending on the stage of the game. In the first four betting intervals, a player may be allowed to bet two chips, while the limit is ten in the final betting interval. The last betting interval is usually reserved for players with a pair or better.