Poker is a gambling game in which players compete to make the best hand by betting their chips. The game begins with an ante, which varies from game to game. Players then place bets into the middle of the table, in a clockwise fashion. At the end of each round of betting, a player whose hand has the highest value wins the pot.

If two players have the same five-card poker hand, the higher hand wins. The low hand, on the other hand, loses if both players have the same five-card hand. If they don’t have a pair, they may split the pot. This will depend on the number of players involved. In some games, the lowest hand is a pair of aces.

In poker, players who have a large statistical advantage may be able to make a backdoor flush. To do this, a player must hit the required cards on the turn and river. If he fails to do so, he forfeits his chips. The player who has a high hand will win the pot if he hits all five of his cards. However, this scenario is rare in most poker games. To make a backdoor flush, a player must hit the needed cards on the turn and river.

During a hand, players can check, raise, or fold their cards. Usually, players have four cards at the end of a round of betting. If you are unsure of how to play the game, you can start by playing basic five-card draw poker.