In most poker games, the highest-ranked hand wins the pot. However, there are many variations on this rule. Some players choose to award the pot to the lowest hand, and some even play poker with no ranking at all.

Before the cards are dealt, a forced bet, called an ante or blind bet is placed into the pot by one or more players. Then the cards are dealt, usually face down. Players may then choose to raise the bet by putting in chips that are at least equal to those put in by the player to their left. The first player to do this is known as the opening player.

Most poker games are played with chips, which represent money and are easier to stack, count, keep track of, make change with, and pass around the table than cash. Each color of chip represents a different value, with white chips being worth the minimum ante or bet and red chips being higher-valued. Some games also have a dealer, who is responsible for shuffling and dealing the cards to each player. Usually this is a player, but sometimes it is a non-player.

When a player raises a bet, it is generally good form for the rest of the players to call the bet in order to keep the betting pressure on. It is bad form to raise a bet and then check, which gives the impression that you have no intention of calling it and allows your opponent to easily count how many chips you have in your stack.