During the first few rounds, all players must make a small bet, known as the ante. This ante gives the pot a value right away.

After the ante is made, the cards are dealt one at a time to each player. These cards are ranked from the Ace to the 10s.

If two people have the same hand, the high card breaks the tie. If four or more people have the same high card, the hand wins.

The aim of the hand is to have the highest-ranked hand of cards. A pair is a two-card hand, a flush is a three-card hand, and a straight is a five-card hand.

A gutshot is a straight completed from the inside, while a trip is a seven-card hand. A “backdoor flush” is achieved by hitting a needed card on the turn or river.

An ace-queen high is a hand with an ace and a queen. A trip seven is the best possible hand on the turn or river. A gutshot is half as likely to hit as an open-ended straight.

When a hand is tied, the hand with the highest unmatched fifth card wins. If no other player has the high card, the hand with the highest pair wins.

A straight flush starts with the highest value card. If there are no ties, the hands that are tied for the highest card are the hands that are high and have the same suit.