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The Basics of Poker

The Basics of Poker

Using poker chips, a group of people sit around a circular table to play a game of chance. The object is to win the pot by making the highest hand.

There are a number of variations to the game, but the standard pack of cards is used. Each player receives 7 cards, one at a time. The best natural hand is a straight flush, or 5 cards in the same suit.

If there are two players who have the same hand, a high card breaks the tie. This is known as the polarized range construction.

If there is only one high card, then the pot is won by the highest hand. Similarly, if there are two or more hands with the same highest card, then the pot is split.

The smallest chip that can be used to make a bet is the white chip. It is usually worth between 10 and 25 whites.

A kitty is a special fund that each player has. This fund is divided among the players who are still in the game. These kitty chips are often used to pay for new decks of cards. They are also used to cover the cost of food at the poker table.

When a player does not owe anything to the pot, he is said to check. He must make sure that no other player has a bet. If he checks, he will be forced to drop his hand.