The game of Poker is one of the most classic card games ever created. Though no one knows exactly where it originated, most people think it probably began in Persia. In the 17th century, a French game called poque (from which we get the word poker) evolved. This game was an evolved version of primero, a Spanish card game played by two to four people, with only the Aces. The game eventually reached the New World via French settlers and became widely popular.
Today, there are hundreds of different poker games, all with the same goal: to make the best five-card hand. The rules and strategy for each variant are the same, however, so it is important to know how to play effectively in every variant. Here are some of the most important aspects of the game:
Players reveal their hands one by one in a betting round. The winning hand is revealed to each player clockwise around the table. It is the player who starts the process that determines whether or not the player has a winning hand. Depending on the variant, players may choose to reveal their cards after each new hand. If all players have a winning hand, they win the pot. If not, they lose their chance to win the pot altogether.
In casual play, each player receives a deck of cards and is assigned a dealer. This person is responsible for shuffling the deck and dealing cards to players. In some games, the dealer is a non-player. The role of dealer rotates among players. The dealer button (or buck) is a white plastic disk that marks the nominal dealer. It determines the betting order. During the game, the cards are dealt clockwise around the table.