There are several variations of the game of Poker. Each variation has its own betting structure and rules. The first bet is made by one player who is given the privilege (or obligation) to do so. Each player must place a certain number of chips into the pot equal to the total contribution of players before them. If a player does not place any chips into the pot, he is said to be an inactive player. In the same way, each player may not participate in a hand if he has not placed a bet.

During a showdown, more than one player remains in the game. The players reveal their hidden cards and evaluate their hands. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. Poker hands consist of five cards. A hand is only valued if it is the highest five-card combination. Common poker hands include the straight flush and four of a kind. Once each player has created his or her hand, the game continues. Poker is also very popular as it can be played online or at a local casino.

Regardless of the game type, there are many variations of the game. The most popular variant of poker, Texas Hold’em, involves betting on a “pot” (a pool of money at the table). Players start the game by making an ante, which varies from game to game. When the betting phase ends, the active players reveal their hands in a clockwise direction. The winner of the round is the player who has the highest hand (or “highest hand”).