The Basics of Poker

Poker is a card game played by a group of people. The game is based on betting, but also requires strategic thinking and a high level of knowledge of probability.

Poker has ancient roots that go back almost a thousand years and cross several continents. It is a descendant of the 16th-century Spanish game primero, which was played with three cards.

Players receive one facedown (hole) card and one faceup card, which they use to make their best poker hand. A player who has the highest poker combination in his faceup cards wins the pot, regardless of the other player’s hands.

The first betting interval begins when the player to the left of the dealer puts an initial contribution, called an “ante,” into the pot. The ante is usually equal to the minimum amount allowed under the rules of the game.

Next, each player to the left of the first bettor, in turn, makes a bet. If the first bettor calls, the other players must match or raise; if the first bettor does not call, the other players must fold.

In some games the player to the left of the first bettor may have to put an additional contribution, called an “ante,” into the game. This ante is generally equal to the minimum ante or bet for the game, but it can be more or less.

In some variations of the game, a player’s lowest-ranked hand wins the pot instead of his highest-ranked hand. This is often known as a “high low split” game.