There are a number of different forms of poker, but the official rules for poker are based on the classic standard 52-card deck (with two jokers). The players each put one or more chips into the pot before they are dealt cards. Then there are one or more betting intervals during which the players try to minimize their losses with bad hands and maximize their winnings with good ones.

When a player shows his or her cards for the showdown (the last interval), the best five-card hand wins. This is determined according to the standard poker hand rankings, with a royal flush being the highest.

Poker is a card game played by two or more people, usually in a circle. A standard pack of 52 cards is used, although some games add a couple of wild cards. The cards are arranged in suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs; there are four of each card; and the Ace is high. Some poker games have additional rules, such as requiring a certain number of cards to form a hand, or specifying which hands win.

The game of poker is governed by internationally recognized poker laws, as adopted by the FIDPA. Using these rules avoids many of the disputes that can arise at casino tables or in poker tournaments. However, a local code of poker laws can be supplemented with house rules to suit the preferences of the particular club or group of players.