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The Game of Poker

Poker is one of the world's most popular card games. It is played everywhere from neighborhood garages to multi-million-dollar televised tournaments.

Historians believe that poker evolved over the last ten centuries from numerous card games whose primary goal was to bluff opponents. The Spanish game Primero, which dates back to 1526, is often considered the precursor to modern poker. The French game Poque was brought to the Americas by French colonials, where it then gained popularity along the banks of the Mississippi river during the 1800s. The modern game of poker was solidified in 1875 with the introduction of the joker as a wild card.

Winning Poker Hands
Poker is a general name for card games involving betting, bluffing, and chance. The basic game is played with five cards dealt to each player, although the rules vary between games. The players then bet based on a hierarchy of possible hands with the highest hand winning the bets. The hierarchy is as follows (from lowest hand to highest): 

• High Card: The cards are ranked from two through Ace.
  
  
• One Pair: Any two cards that have the same face value. The higher pair wins if two or more players have a pair.
  
  
• Two Pairs: Any series of cards in which two pairs are present. The higher of the two pairs determines the winning hand.
  
  
• Three of a Kind: Three cards that have the same face value.
  
  
• Straight: Five cards of mixed suits in sequence. The highest card in the straight determines the win if there are competing straights. The Ace can be counted as low or high, i.e. A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A.
  
  
• Flush: Any five cards of the same suit. The cards do not need to be in sequence. Like the straight, high card in the flush determines the win. No suit is worth more than another suit.
  
  
• Full House: Three cards of one face value along with two cards of another face value, for example 8-8-8-A-A. When competing full houses are played, the face of the three cards determines which is higher.
  
  
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same face value. The fifth card does not matter. The set of four with the higher face determines the win.
  
  
• Straight Flush: Five cards of one suit in consecutive order. An example of a straight flush would be 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts. If there are two straight flushes competing, the hand with the highest top card wins.
  
  
• Royal Flush: The royal flush is the highest hand in Poker. It is 10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit. Competing royal flushes are considered equal and split the bets.

Poker Game Variations
There are an incredible number of variations on the basic game of poker. Here are two of the most popular poker variations and a brief summary of their rules:

Five-Card Draw
Five Card draw is a very popular and simple poker game. Each player is dealt five cards. A round of betting takes place where players can decide to bet or fold their cards. Those who have bet now have the option to exchange up to three of their cards for new cards.

A player may also exchange a fourth card if the remaining card in their hand is an Ace. Another round of betting takes place once players have had their cards exchanged. The remaining hands are revealed and the winner takes the whole pot.

Texas Hold ‘Em
Texas Hold ‘Em is another popular poker game. It is the game played in the main tournament of the World Series of Poker. Texas Hold ‘Em requires two to ten players who are each dealt two down cards. These are called “hole cards.”

Once the cards are dealt, each player has to opportunity to bet or fold their hand. After betting, the dealer places three cards face up in the middle of the table. This called the “flop” and these are the first of the community cards.

A round of betting and folding follows the "flop". The dealer then places another single card face up. This is called the “turn” or “fourth street.” The turn is followed by another round of betting. Finally, the dealer places another card face up in the community cards. This is called the “river” or “fifth street.”

Each player may use the best combination of any five cards, including their hole cards and community cards. Another round of betting ensues after which the remaining players show their hands and the winner takes the pot.

The World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is the world's biggest poker tournament. The 2006 version featured over 8,000 players and a first place prize of $12.5 million. Tom Moore started the World Series of Poker in 1969 at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada.

The tournament was originally an invitational tournament, but Benny Binion, a Las Vegas casino owner, soon expanded the tournament to include satellite events that took place throughout the year, leading up to the final tournament that is open to anyone willing to pay the $10,000 entry fee.

In addition to the WSOP, other major poker tournaments include the World Poker Tour championship event, which takes place in Las Vegas and the United States Poker Championship, held in Atlantic City.

Poker Skills and Strategies
Poker is a game that requires a large number of skills. Strategic play involves a detailed understanding of the rules, the odds of you or your opponents getting a good hand, the ability to read your opponents for signs of what cards they may have, and the ability to hide what cards you have.

Improving your play revolves around learning to pay attention to not only your play, but the play of those around you so that you can anticipate their moves and make well-thought-out decisions. By playing the game, watching tournaments on television or in person, and reading books about poker, you can continue to improve your skills.