Poker is a game in which the players make decisions based on probability. In some variants, players are required to contribute to the pot before being dealt the cards. In other variations, one player has the privilege or obligation to make the first bet. The bets placed in the pot are known as the pot amounts. Each player must then place as many chips in the pot as the previous player contributed. This is known as the active player.

Poker is played with a 52-card deck, with four of each suit. The chips are typically red, white, blue, or green, and are used to make bets. Players can also use real money to place bets, but it is easier to handle chips. Unlike cash, players can trade and exchange chips with other players.

There are several betting structures in poker, including pot-limit, no-limit, and fixed-limit. The betting limit of a game usually varies based on the stage of the game. For example, a player who is betting in a no-limit game can only bet up to the pot amount, while players in a pot-limit game can bet as many chips as they want.

As a general rule, the highest possible poker hand is five of a kind. In addition to the five of a kind, there are two kinds of ties. A pair of aces is the lowest pair.