The Basics of Poker

Poker is a classic card game that has been around for centuries. While its origins are uncertain, most believe that it evolved from earlier versions. The word “poker” is attributed to Jonathan H. Green, who saw a game of poker played on a Mississippi riverboat. The game was played between two to four players with twenty cards. The game became popular, and it was brought to North America by French settlers. It is not known how the game came about, but the spirit of bluffing and misdirection are the hallmarks of poker.

A hand of poker is a set of five cards, ranked Ace high or low. High-rank pairs are known as “high-pair” hands, and the higher-rank pair wins. In a tie, the high-card outside the four-of-a-kind hand wins. If no higher-rank four-of-a-kind cards are present, a hand called a “flush” is created. A flush consists of all five cards of the same suit. A straight or higher-rank pair breaks the tie.

A game of poker may involve as few as one player, but six to eight players is recommended. Each player must place their bet in a pot called the pot. Each player must put an equal number of chips into the pot. The player with the highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. The player who calls the bet is an active player. There are other poker variants. If you’re new to poker, start with this game and see how it goes!