The basic game of Poker is a game of chance, but the addition of betting and psychology adds a little skill. This primer will give you an overview of the rules, but more detailed information is available in books and by playing with a group. Of course, reading a book will cost you more than playing with a group, so you may want to consider a combination of the two. Regardless of which route you take, there are some basic rules that you should learn.
The game’s name probably comes from French poque and German pochen, but it is not certain where poker originated. However, the game closely resembles the Persian game of as nas, and it is possible that Persian sailors brought the game to the French settlers in New Orleans. The game is often considered an ancestor of the games primero and brelan. As such, it was carried to the New World by French settlers, who later adapted it into the game we know today.
In order to determine the winning hand, a player needs two distinct pairs of cards. The higher-ranking pair wins. In the case of ties, the highest-ranking pair is more advantageous. For example, K-J-9-3-2-A beats the K-Q-J-Q-J-Q-Q-J. If both of these hands are higher, the higher-ranking card wins. The lowest straight is five-four-3-2-A.