Poker is a card game where one or more players make hands of five or more cards. A winning hand includes two pairs of cards and a high card. In most games, the highest pair wins, but if there are ties, the high card wins. The high card breaks ties when no one has a pair of cards, and when multiple players have high hands of the same kind. However, it is important to note that not every hand is worth the same amount.
In Poker, a player begins the hand by placing an ante (a small bet that varies depending on the game). The next player to act will then place a bet into the center of the table, and the person on the left of the dealer button is called the button. Players then bet into the pot, and the player with the highest hand wins the pot. Betting in Poker usually takes place clockwise and players have three choices when betting: fold, match bet, or raise.
Depending on the house rules, theoretical poker hands may double each time they are raised. However, this is usually only allowed a certain number of times. This is because stakes often become large after three or four raises. Doubling a stake beyond this point is dangerous, as it could force a player out of the game due to lack of funds.