Unless otherwise specified, the cards in a poker deck are ranked from Ace to Ace. They are shuffled by the dealer and then distributed to the remaining players. The number of cards in a deck varies based on the type of game played. Some games have specific wild cards.

When two players have four of a kind, the higher of the two wins. When two four of a kind have the same rank, the high card breaks the tie.

The standard poker hand is a straight flush, which is five cards in the same suit. The lowest possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 in two or more suits.

The pot is the sum of all the bets placed in a single deal. The hand that wins the pot is the highest-ranking poker hand. The odd chips in the pot are awarded to the hand that has the best hand by suit.

When a player makes a bet, the other players in the pot must also make a bet. The pot is then divided as evenly as possible. A player can win the pot by making a bet that no other player calls.

If a player folds, the hand is discarded. A player may fold if he believes he has no value in the pot.

If a player does not want to bet, he may check. The player who checks is said to “drop”. If a player bets, he is called by the opponent.