The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game in which players place bets based on the probability that their cards will form a winning hand. It involves skill and strategy but is mostly a game of chance.

Poker was first documented in print in 1836, but it has likely existed much earlier. Its ancestor is the Italian game Primiera (16th century – present), and other early games include Gilet (under various spellings, 16th century – 18th centuries), and Ambigu (French, of unknown age).

In Poker, each player has 2 cards face down (hidden from other players) that are called their hole or pocket cards. Players then make a betting phase, known as the pre-flop, before 3 more cards are dealt face up on the table. These are community cards that all players can use to create their own 5-card hand. Players may choose to call, raise, or fold their hands at this point.

Usually, the best 5-card hand wins. However, there are rules for how the winner shares the money that was put down as chips at the table. This can be agreed upon before the game begins or be determined by luck (and bluffing). The winner can also walk away with all of the money in the pot, depending on the specifics of the game.