While the game of poker can be played with any number of players, the ideal number is six to eight. There are two ways to win: by having the highest poker hand, or by betting a certain amount and hoping that no one else calls your bet. In either case, you win the pot. A hand can also be a combination of two or more cards. For this reason, the game has many rules. Below are some of the basic rules of poker.
Almost every form of poker involves chips. For games with more than seven players, the table should supply chips. The lowest value chip is a white chip. There are also red and blue chips. White chips are the lowest value, and red chips are worth five whites. Blue chips are worth two, four, or five reds. Each player “buys in” by purchasing chips, usually the same amount. Then, the players compete by raising or folding their hands.
Different variations of poker have different betting intervals. In most cases, the player who makes the first bet is called the “ante up.” Those who raise their bets twice or more are called “active players.”