Poker is a card game where players take turns using one of their cards to create the best hand possible. In straight poker, players are dealt five cards, two of which are face down. After a betting interval, the cards are revealed and players reveal their hands. The aim of the game is to form the best possible hand by using one of their cards and four from the table. The player with the best hand wins the game.

In five-card poker, there are 10 basic ways to win. The best hand is the one that has at least two pairs of cards of the same rank. Other ways to win include a flush and a straight. A flush is a hand with five cards of the same suit in any order. Poker hands are ranked by their odds.

Players begin the game by placing blinds and antes. Then, each player is dealt one card at a time. This process is repeated clockwise around the table. When the players reveal their hands, the player with the best hand wins the pot. If all the players have no hands, they may fold. If all players are still betting, the game ends after one player has won all of the money they put down as buy-in.

Each player is entitled to raise his stake, but he does not have to. The house rules usually allow for doubling the stakes up to four times. The stakes tend to become very large after three or four raises. However, doubling stakes too much can force players out of the game due to lack of funds.