Often regarded as a descendant of the French game poque and the German primero, poker is a card game played by a group of people around an oval table. The aim is to make the best hand possible.

The game is played by a variety of rules. Usually, players will be required to put a certain amount of money into the pot, which they can then bet on. Depending on the rules, these bets may be raised, lowered or folded.

A player is also able to bluff, in which he will make a bet that is greater than the last bet. This may be in order to get another player to fold. However, if the other player does not fold, the bluff has been unsuccessful.

Poker is usually played with chips, which are generally made of ceramic or plastic. These can be exchanged for real money.

The goal of the game is to make the best possible hand, which is comprised of five cards. The best hand wins the pot. If two or more hands are tied, the highest card is used to break the tie.

The best hands are the straight flush, which is five cards in one suit. A straight flush can be high or low, while a royal flush is a high straight flush. If a player holds a pair of kings and a pair of aces, the pair is a good off-the-deal hand, but is not a great hand off-the-deal.