The basic rules of poker are quite simple: a player with the best five-card hand wins the round and all bets are shared among the players. Players will continue to play for as long as they can, but eventually they will run out of money. The end of the game occurs when one player has won all the money they have put down as a buy-in. To determine which hand will win the pot, players can compare their hands against each other by looking at their cards.

Each betting interval starts with a player placing a bet of one or more chips. Each player to the left must then call, raise, or “drop” their bets. Players who “drop” are out of the game and must replace their lost chips. In addition, they have to place the same number of chips into the pot as the previous players. Once everyone has finished betting, the winner of the pot is announced. In some variations, there is a blind round.

When a player has the highest hand, it is called the “nuts”. For example, if you have an ace and seven in the hole, you have a top pair. If you get three straights, you have an overpair. The same applies to a hand of sevens. If you are playing in a tournament, it is essential to know what is a “nuts” hand. While the best hand isn’t necessarily the best one, it’s the best possible one at that moment.