Poker is a card game that is played worldwide. Players take turns revealing their cards to create the best hand possible. The winning hand is awarded the pot. It is not uncommon for more than one player to remain in the running after the final round of betting.

A standard poker deck contains 52 cards, ranked from Ace to King. Some games may also have jokers or deuces wild, which replace any other card in the hand.

Most poker games begin with a small ante, which is a bet all players make before the cards are dealt. This gives the pot an immediate value.

Players then have to reveal their cards and decide whether to call, fold, or raise. Depending on the type of game, the ante is usually between $1 and $5.

Once the antes are paid, the dealer deals the cards to each player. Each player will then have two cards in his hand. If no pair is present, a tie is broken by the high card.

Next, the remaining players begin a new round of betting. Betting begins with the player with the best face-up card. During this phase, players can match the bet or raise.

In the last betting phase, the hand will be revealed and the person with the highest hand wins the pot. In some games, a straight is used as the final showdown.

In some poker variants, a backdoor flush is achieved by hitting a needed card on the turn and the river.