Poker is a card game played by two or more players. Each player is dealt two cards and the community cards are then used to make a five-card “hand”. The goal is to win the pot (all chips bet so far) by making the best hand. Players bet based on their evaluation of the probabilities of the hands that others hold, or they may bluff for strategic reasons.
Poker traces its roots back to a variety of earlier vying games. The most likely immediate ancestor is Poque, also known as Pochen, that appeared in culturally French territory in the late 16th century. It remained current under various spellings into the 19th century, when it spread to America.
A standard deck of 52 cards is used to play poker, and each player buys in for a certain number of chips. Each chip has a color and value assigned to it: white chips are worth the minimum ante or bet; red chips are worth either five whites or ten whites, depending on the game.
A player who wishes to add more money to the betting pool can say, “raise,” and the other players must choose to call or fold. Alternatively, a player can check and remain in the game without adding to the bet. Checking is only allowed if no one before you in the betting interval has raised. Otherwise, you must raise to stay in the game. The game of poker has a long history, and its early appearance in English society is often credited to General Schenck, who brought the game from America to his Somerset country home for a weekend retreat with friends.