Whether you’re playing poker online or in the real world, the rules of the game are the same. Each player has five cards to use in order to create the best hand possible. The highest hand wins the pot.

In the first round of the deal, one card is face up for each player. The player with the lowest hand must bet. Sometimes, the ace is treated as the lowest card. The first player to bet must bet at least the minimum amount required by the game. The second, third, and fourth bettor must also bet. The bet is then gathered into the pot.

In the next round, the cards are dealt again. Each player is given another card. This is called the betting interval. During the betting interval, each player can either check or raise. If a player checks, he is said to be “checking.” If he raises, he is said to be “raising.”

Players may also bluff. If a player is bluffing, he may bet that he has the best hand. However, the other players must match the bet. A player who makes a bet without matching the last bettor is called to fold. If a player folds, he may no longer compete for the pot.

The next round of the deal is called the showdown. This is where the players face each other in order to determine who has the best hand. The winner of the showdown is the player who makes the highest bet.