Whether you’re playing for fun or for money, poker has been around for centuries. In fact, it has become a global pastime. And, thanks to televised poker tournaments, it’s gained a lot of attention in the last decade.

In traditional games of poker, each player is dealt a hand of five cards. The highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. In some games, the pot is divided between the highest and lowest hands. However, in others, the pot is divided based on the number of cards in each hand.

Each player begins the game by making a bet. Usually, the bet is a minimum. If no one calls the bet, the player makes a check. If another player raises the bet, the player is required to match the bet.

The player with the highest-ranking poker combination is the first bettor. The dealer has the last right to shuffle the deck. After the first bettor makes his bet, each player in turn will deal their cards.

Once the cards are dealt, the remaining players can see their cards. They can discard up to three of their cards. Then, the remaining player collects the pot without revealing his or her hand.

After the second round of betting, a third round of cards is dealt. All cards are dealt face up, except for the jack, which is dealt face down.

The last round of cards is called a showdown. When all the cards are revealed, the winner is the person with the best hand.