Official poker is a game played with a standard pack of 52 cards (although some variant games use multiple packs or add jokers). Cards are ranked in the usual way (high to low) from Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, with four suits. The highest poker hand wins. In addition to the standard rank of cards, some games have wild cards that can take on any suit or rank the player wishes, such as a pair of twos or one-eyed jacks.
Poker is a game of chance, but it also requires skill and psychology to play well. In the long run, players who understand the rules of poker and employ sound strategy will win more often than those who simply rely on luck.
The rules of poker are regulated internationally by the Poker Tournament Directors Association (Poker TDA). This organization was founded in 2001 by players Matt Savage, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher and David Lamb to promote consistency among live and online poker games. It has over 2,500 members in 63 countries, and meets every two years at the Poker TDA Summit to discuss new rules.
The dealer’s position in a poker game is marked by a button, which rotates between the players clockwise. When it is a player’s turn to act, they can choose to fold, call the amount of the previous bet or raise their bet. If they choose to raise, the other players must call their raise. A player can ask to see a called hand even if it has been mucked, but abuse of this privilege will result in the dealer refusing to show the card.