Usually played on a table, Poker is a game of strategy, gambling and chance. The object is to make the best hand possible, and then to win the pot. Whether you’re playing in a casino, on a friend’s sofa or at a home game, there are a few things you should know.

First, most games have two or more betting intervals. Each interval begins with a bet of one or more chips. When the bets are equalized, the next interval is called the “showdown”. This is when the cards are revealed, and the best hand wins.

There are four suits in the deck. These are black, red, green and blue. These chips are worth different amounts of money. The lowest valued chip is the blue chip. It is worth 10 or 20 whites.

The player to the left of the button is required to post a “small blind” bet. This bet is a forced bet that is paid before the hand is dealt.

The dealer will then assign values to each of the chips in the deck. Most packs contain two jokers, which are used for games such as Canasta. The chips should be placed on the table so the dealer can see them.

Aside from the chips, there are four cards in each hand. These cards are ranked from Ace to 10. A full house is made up of three aces and two 6s. A flush is five cards of the same suit.