Typically, each player receives a complete hand of five cards. The goal is to make the best possible hand by betting. If you do not have a winning hand, you do not show it to the other players.

When a poker hand reaches a showdown, everyone except one player must fold. The winner takes the pot.

Some games have wild cards, which can be used to augment any other card. The best natural hand is a straight flush, which is five cards in the same suit.

In a tie, the best high card breaks the tie. For example, if a pair of Kings and an Ace were tied, the King would break the tie. However, if Charley had a pair of kings and an ace, he probably tried to play for a flush.

If a tie remains after the last round of betting, the player with the highest card wins the pot. If a hand contains two distinct pairs, plus the fifth card, it is known as a trip. The lowest hand is considered a nut hand, and the highest is a trip.

The dealer deals each hand of cards clockwise around the table. The first person to the left of the button is the first to act. The dealer then shuffles and cuts the cards.

After each hand, the dealer moves one spot clockwise. This position is called the dedicated dealer button. Normally, the button is a white plastic disk.