In the most basic form of the game, players place their cards into the pot when they have a hand of two distinct pairs of cards and a high card. In a tie, the high card wins. However, if a player doesn’t have a pair or a better hand, the next highest card will break the tie. In a no-bluff scenario, a player can fold a pair of kings.
In a no-limit game, all players place bets on a board. The first player to place a bet wins the pot. In some variants, one player has the privilege and obligation to bet first. Each player must place a certain number of chips in the pot, equal to the total contribution of the previous player. The active player is the one who makes his or her bets. This is also the case with no-limit games.
Some versions of the game have betting intervals. In a no-limit game, the first player to place a bet is called an “ante”. The next player is said to call, and the person who matches the previous bettor is called a “raiser.” A player who checks is known as a “stay in” and does not make a bet. In these variants, the player must make sure that no other player has bet.