Poker is a card game that is played across the world. It is played by a group of 5-7 players with a set of cards and poker chips. The aim of the game is to have the highest ranked hand of cards.

To begin the game, each player must buy into the pot with a fixed amount of chips. A blue chip is typically worth ten or twenty whites, a red chip is usually worth five whites, and a white chip is normally the lowest valued chip.

Cards are then dealt clockwise around the table. In the first betting interval, the player to the dealer’s left puts down the second blind.

After the first betting interval, the turn to bet passes from player to player. At the end of the betting interval, the player with the best hand collects the pot. If no one has the best hand, the pot is divided equally among the remaining players.

The highest possible hand in a poker game is a Straight Flush. It begins with the highest value card and is followed by a pair.

The lowest possible hand is a 6-4-3-2-A. The ace may be treated as the lowest card in some games.

In a fixed-limit game, players are not allowed to bet more than the limit. Stakes may vary by game.

When a player is called, the amount of money that he or she is putting into the pot is raised. This is called a “call.” During the final betting interval, a player is allowed to raise his or her stake.