In Poker, players can win by placing all or part of their money into the pot. Each player decides to do so based on probability, psychology, and game theory. When there is more than one player left, a showdown occurs. Players reveal their cards and evaluate their hands. The player with the best hand wins the pot. A poker hand consists of five cards. The highest hand is called a flush. Other possible poker hands are a straight flush or four of a kind.
A pair in poker is a hand that has two cards of the same rank. When there are two pairs of the same rank, the higher pair wins. If two players are tied for high hand and low hand, the pot shall be divided as equally as possible. The highest pair wins, so J-J-2-2-4 beats 10-10-9-9-8. If the two pairs are equal, then the lower pair wins.
Before starting a game of poker, a player must put a small ante. This ante is based on the stakes of the game. The ante is usually equal to the minimum bet. Then, the remaining players make their bets and play their cards. A player who wins all of the money in the pot wins the game.
In a typical poker game, the winning hand is the one with the highest rank; however, there are several variations of the game. Some games award the pot to the lowest hand, and others divide the pot between the lowest and highest hands.