Generally, Poker is played with poker chips. Poker chips are usually red, white or black, but other colors may be used. The chips are usually used in pot-limit games, in which bets are limited to a certain amount.
Poker can be played with anywhere from four to eight players. The ideal number is six to eight. If there are eight or more players, the game can be divided into two separate games.
Cards are dealt face up in rotation, starting with the player to the left. After each round of dealing, a betting interval occurs. When the betting interval ends, the dealer cuts the cards, and the player’s hand is revealed. The player who has the highest poker hand wins the pot.
In most poker games, the betting intervals occur twice per deal. The first betting interval begins with the first bettor making a bet. If no other bettor raises, the pot is won. The next betting interval begins with the next bettor making a bet. In pot-limit games, the first bettor must bet a certain minimum amount in the first betting interval.
In some poker games, the pot is divided between the highest and lowest hands. In other games, the highest hand wins the pot. The lowest hand is 7-5-4-3-2 in two or more suits.
Poker is played with a group of people around an oval table. The initial dealer, also called the “buck” or “bucket,” is a player who has the last right to shuffle the cards.