Poker is a game of skill in which players try to make the best poker hand from five cards. The first player to act, or “the bettor”, is responsible for making the initial bet. This bet must be a minimum bet, depending on the stakes of the game.

During the first three rounds of the deal, each player will receive one card face up. The last player to deal, or the dealer, will have the last right to shuffle.

There are many different variations of Poker. Some are played with a fewer number of cards, while others involve more than seven players. It is important to know the rules of each variation before playing.

For example, a two-pack game requires contrasting colors. In a four-card game, the back hand is closest to the player. A flush does not affect the value of a low hand.

A poker pot is the sum of all bets made by all the players in the deal. The highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. Often, the lowest-ranking hand, which is a pair of aces, is considered the low hand.

When there are more than six or eight players, each player must buy in with the same number of chips. These are usually the white, blue and red chips.

After each round of dealing, a betting interval occurs. Betting is allowed during each interval, but only if each player’s bet is equal to the bet of the previous bettor. If no bet is placed during a betting interval, the next interval begins.