Poker is a card game where players wager their chips to build the best possible hand. This is usually achieved by holding a combination of cards from different suits.

The first round of betting consists of antes, blinds, and a small and big blind. It may also feature a side pot. The side pot is created from additional money bet by players remaining in the hand.

Some variants of poker include wild cards. They are cards inserted into the deck by the dealer. They can substitute for any other card, or take any suit.

Poker games can be played with as few as two players, and as many as eighteen. In any given hand, a player’s highest poker hand trumps the lowest.

The best poker hand is usually two distinct pairs of cards, plus the elusive fifth card. This is accomplished by hitting the right cards on the turn and river. However, some variations will not consider flushes.

In a typical poker game, the pot is awarded to the best hand. Depending on the game, the pot might be split between the best and lowest hands.

A three-card brag, a popular gentleman’s game from the American Revolution, is a close cousin to the poker game. These days, three-card brag is still popular.

One of the most important aspects of poker is the betting phase. The betting phase takes place after each round of deal and before the drawing phase. During this period, a player may raise or check.