Whether playing poker online or at a land-based casino, there are several ways to approach the game. Each player’s goals are different, but in general, the goal is to make the best hand of cards possible. Depending on the stakes in the game, players can choose to play one round of betting, a number of rounds, or all of them. Depending on the stakes in the games, each player may be required to contribute to the pot before the game begins.

The first player to bet is called the “bet”. If no other player bets, the player who has the highest card is said to “call”. If a player raises, the player who matches the previous bet is said to “call”.

The next round of betting begins with the player who bets last. All other players are able to check, fold, or raise.

The final betting round is called the Showdown. The winner is the player who holds the best hand of cards. If two or more players have the same hand, the ties are broken by secondary pairs. If more than one player has the same hand, the pot is divided between the players.

The game is played with cards that are typically colored green, blue, or red. The chips are white or black. The dealer is not a player, but a person who serves as a shuffler and cuts cards.

Before the game begins, the chips are assigned a value. Each player must place a chip in the pot equal to the amount of money contributed by the player before him.