Poker is a card game that requires both skill and luck to win. It is played between two or more players and can be a cash or tournament game. Various forms of the game exist, but most share certain essential features. A poker hand consists of five cards. Its value is in inverse proportion to its mathematical frequency; the more uncommon it is, the higher the hand’s rank. Players may raise the stakes of a hand by betting that they have the highest hand; this strategy is called bluffing. Other players may call the bet or fold, depending on their own cards and the strength of their opponents’ hands.
The game is typically played with a standard 53-card English deck. A joker (or bug) is included, but it only counts as a fifth ace or to fill a flush [a series of five cards of the same suit], a straight or certain special hands. Deuces (2s) are wild, and the ace of spades and jack of hearts are considered one-eyes. The game can be played with as few as two or as many as 14 players, although the ideal number is six to seven.
To begin the game, the dealer deals each player five cards face up. The player to his or her left can cut the deck, but must leave at least five cards. Each player then reveals his or her cards, and the winner is the player with the highest ranking hand. In the event of a tie, the winnings are shared.