Poker is one of the most popular card games worldwide. It is usually played in casinos and private homes. It is also one of the most popular forms of gambling in North America. The game has been called the national card game of the United States.

Poker is usually played with at least five players. The goal is to create the best possible hand. Each player receives five cards. A straight or flush is usually the highest possible hand. Often, a player will be awarded the pot if he or she has the lowest hand. However, in some variants, a hand may be split. For example, in Stud, a pot can be split between the highest and the lowest hand.

During the first three rounds of dealing, each player is given two cards. These are face up. After each round of dealing, a betting interval occurs. Players can either call, raise, or fold. They can also bluff. To do so, they can discard their current hand and replace it with a new one.

When the fifth betting interval ends, a showdown takes place. The winner is the player with the highest unmatched fifth card. If there are two players, a tie is broken by the highest unmatched card.

In some games, the lowest hand is considered a pair of aces. This is known as a backdoor flush. If a player has a substantial lead over the other players, he or she can achieve a backdoor flush by hitting the required cards on the turn and river.