Poker is a game played by a group of players on a poker table. A standard deck of 52 cards is used, although some variations may use more than one deck. The aim of the game is to win by betting until all but one player folds.

The first step is to place a bet, which is usually a blind. A blind is an obligatory bet that gives a player something to chase. In some games, the player on the left has to make a small bet as well, which is known as a small blind.

Next, all but one player is dealt a card face up. The player who has the highest card wins the hand. The high card is used to break ties when no one has a pair. The highest unmatched card is also considered a winner.

In some poker variants, the best hand is a straight, or two distinct pairs plus the fifth card. In other games, a straight is not awarded. Some games also do not give awards for flushes or straights.

Another variant, called poque, evolved from the German word for “to gamble.” The first bettor is the player who has the most impressive poker combination. A poque consists of a standard deck of 52 cards, some variants use multiple decks, and other games have wild cards.

The poker game of three card brag was popular in the late 18th century. The modern version of the game is still popular in the United Kingdom.