A card game played by a small group of players in which the aim is to win the pot. This is achieved either by having the highest ranked hand of cards or else by continuing to bet that your hand is the highest until all other players drop out. When this happens the player left with the highest ranked hand wins all bets made during that particular hand.
Each player starts by placing forced bets in the pot (amount varies depending on the game, our games are typically a dime). The dealer then shuffles and deals each player five cards one at a time starting with the player to their left. The cards are then placed in front of each player face up with the exception of the joker, which is designated as a wild card and counts only as a fifth ace or to complete a straight or certain special hands such as five of a kind.
As the betting progresses each player has the option to call, raise or fold their hand. Raising involves increasing the amount of money placed in the pot. This is usually done by a player who feels they have the strongest hand but may also be an attempt to scare other players into folding their hands. Whether raising on purpose or not, bluffing is a crucial part of poker and can greatly affect the outcome of a hand. Many different techniques can be employed to bluff including eye contact, body language and gestures.