Poker is a card game played by a group of players. The number of players depends on the variation of the game, but usually there are at least six to eight. All players place bets, and all bets become the “pot.” The player with the highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. Another way to win the pot is to place a bet that no other player calls.

When you start playing poker, you must make an ante, or initial bet, of a certain amount. You then place your bet into the center pot, where the highest hand wins. The betting is usually done in clockwise order. Once you’ve made your initial bet, you can raise it, fold it, or call.

In a game of poker, the highest hand is called the high hand. The lowest hand is called the low hand. If a player has five cards below eight, he or she is considered a low hand. The hand’s rank is based on a ranking of A-to-five, and straights do not count against a low hand.

There are different betting limits for different games of poker. Usually, a game’s betting limit increases as betting rounds progress. The limit of a game is usually doubled after a draw.