In the game of poker, players are dealt cards from a deck of 52 cards. The deck usually contains two different back colors. Wild cards are also used to supplement cards in the hand. The game is typically played with five or six players. The dealer is tasked with shuffling the deck and dealing out cards to each player.

Some poker variations require blind bets before each round. Blind bets may replace the ante or be added to it. The blind bet requirement is rotated around the table each round. Players take turns making blind bets and must call or check a blind bet before checking their hand. The player who calls the blind bet is said to be an active player.

A player with a pair may spread the pair to other players. However, this risk makes him lose the pot if the other players foul the hand. In ace-to-five lowball, the player with the best hand wins the pot. Flushes and straights do not count. In lowball, the joker is the lowest card not present in a hand.

In the betting phase, players reveal their cards clockwise around the table. In the final betting phase, only players who have not folded the hand have a chance to win the round.