Poker is a card game where players are required to make bets on their hand. The game is usually played clockwise around a table. The right to deal the cards is rotated amongst the players. Usually, the house dealer handles the cards. A button, or buck, marks the dealer. The dealer controls the betting.
In some poker variants, the betting intervals are fixed, so that each player cannot bet more than the fixed limit. For example, in draw poker, the limit is double the amount you bet before the draw. In stud poker, the limit is likewise doubled after the last betting interval. In addition, the limit is higher when a player has exposed pairs.
Most Poker games use a 52-card deck, with four of each suit. The cards are usually colored red, white, or blue, with the suit corresponding to a specific color. Players also use chips to play the game. They’re easier to stack than cash and are more convenient to count. Often, players trade their chips.
Different variations of Poker exist, including draw poker, community card poker, and five-card stud. The game’s origin is uncertain, but the game was likely born in Persia. In 17th century France, it was called poque. The word poker comes from this game, which was later influenced by German pochen and Spanish primero. This game spread throughout Europe, where it eventually found its way to the New World via French settlers.