The Basics of Poker
The earliest recorded form of poker is thought to have originated in 17th century France. This game eventually evolved into German pochen, a re-invention of primero. French settlers brought the game to North America, where the game developed further. In its current form, it is played on a poker table. Players can raise their bet or fold. Players turn their cards face down to the dealer and decide to remain in the game based on their cards.
A poker hand is regarded as “showdown” only when there are no callers in the final betting round, or if someone all-ins before the last betting round. However, a side pot may be created separate from the main pot, and is the money bet by the remaining players after the final round of betting. There are many players in the side pot, and a player who goes all-in may only win the pot to which he contributed.
There are various versions of the game, including three-card Monte and Spit-in-the-ocean. Poker variants will be described later in this chapter. If more than 10 players are involved, two separate games can be organized. All games will require a table and chairs. Besides, there are many variants. In the United States, poker is played with a deck of 52 cards. The number of suits depends on the type of game.