Among its many variations, Poker can be divided into a number of sub-types. For example, there are three-card monte games, a game of fewer than five cards, and a game of spitting in the ocean. All of these variations will be discussed later in this chapter. For a larger group of players, two separate games can be organized. But for the sake of this discussion, let’s focus on Texas hold’em.
In the basic game of poker, each player receives five cards, which are used to create a hand. The first player is responsible for betting the first round. After that, players may trade any number of cards, ranging from one to three. A player may trade all four of his or her cards if he has an Ace. The highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. If no one else calls his bet, the player is said to be an active player.
If no combination is possible, the highest card is considered the winning hand. In case of a tie, the next highest card will break the tie. If more than one player has two pairs, the winner is the one with the highest pair. Another winning hand is a straight. A straight is a five-card hand with a high card. If two players have a straight, a higher card wins. When all the cards are suited, the player with the highest straight is the winner.