In the game of poker, players use a standard 52-card deck. These decks can have extra cards known as jokers, which are used to improve the odds of winning. Typically, poker is played with one pack, but sometimes two packs are used to speed up the game. In either case, the previous dealer deals a hand and shuffles the deck, and then passes the cards to the next dealer.

There are hundreds of ways to play poker. The rules of each game may vary from casino to casino, but the basics of the game are always the same. In most cases, players put in an ante and blind bet before being dealt hole cards. Typically, the best hand will win the pot. After betting, players may fold or raise their initial bet.

Before the first hand is dealt, the small blind, or player to the left of the dealer button, must make a bet. This bet is equivalent to a full first-round bet. Players must also post the big blind and small blind before they may begin betting. Without the blinds, the game would be very boring as each player would have to put money into the pot every hand. The blinds are a way to keep the game exciting and give players something to chase.

In poker, a hand with five of the same rank has a high value. An example of a full house is a five-card combination of two pairs and an ace. However, this hand can be made of either high-value cards or low-value cards.