HOW TO PLAY
Poker is a card game involving the betting on the strength of one's hand in relation to the hands of one's competitors. There are numerous variations of the game, with most played with a standard single 52-card deck. Poker requires mathematical and analytical attributes as well as the ability to "read" one's opponents, or obtain information about their hands based on observing their physical demeanor or betting patterns.
Poker's origins are debated. While some historians trace poker's roots back to the 15th century, others contend that it goes back no further than the late 18th century. Even the origins of its name are disputed as it is thought to come from the German-derived French word, poque, meaning to brag or bluff, the Irish word, Poca, meaning pocket, while others still, claim that the word has Hindu roots in the word Pukka, which means genuine or authentic.
In general, poker is usually played against any number of opponents in contention to win a communal pot of money or chips. Poker involves each player being dealt a "hand" or a fixed number of cards. Afterwards, depending on the game, there are subsequent betting rounds and the additional dealing of cards to each player. During betting rounds, players decide whether or not to wager money based on the strength of their hands, or the perceived weakness of their opponent(s)' hands. The dealing rounds may involve cards being dealt communally or individually to each player depending on the variation of the game. The winner is the player with the strongest (or weakest, depending on the game) hand after all betting and dealing rounds have ended.
Below are the rules of the different poker variations along with general poker terminology, poker strategy and poker hand rankings.
Poker Games and Rules
The Deck and Hand Rankings
Poker Strategy
Poker Glossary
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