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The Basics of Poker

Poker

Poker is a card game where players use their cards to try to beat other players. The best hands win the pot. The process begins with a round of betting. A round continues until all but one player has folded, or the remaining players have shown their cards and won the pot. This process is known as a showdown.

While there is a certain element of luck in poker, this element is significantly diminished as more hands are dealt. Poker is largely a game of skill, where ranges and balancing bluffs are key aspects. The long term expected value of poker hands tends to resemble the bell-shaped distribution.

Typically, poker uses a standard 52-card pack. In some games, jokers may also be added. The standard game is played with one pack, but two packs of contrasting colors are used to speed up the game. The first pack is dealt, while the other is shuffled. The previous dealer assembles the dealt cards and places them to his or her left. Then, the shuffled deck is passed to the next dealer.

The game of poker can be played with any number of players, but six or eight is the ideal number. The amount of money a player places in a poker game is called the pot. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.