The Basics of Poker

The word “poker” has a apocryphal history, with no clear evidence of its origins. However, a 17th-century French game is most likely the earliest known version. The French term comes from poque, which developed into the German variant primero. Eventually, it was brought to North America by French settlers. The name of the game was changed to poker when it was first introduced in the United States.

The rules of poker are the same wherever the game is played. The only difference is the way bets are placed. In all versions, a player is permitted to put in his bet voluntarily, and only if he is trying to bluff another player. During each betting interval, each player must put in the same number of chips. Players are deemed active players once they have placed a bet in the pot.

The players in poker usually use chips. The lowest value chip is the white chip. In games with seven or more players, the white chip is worth five whites. In addition, the red and blue chips are worth ten, twenty or 25 – and the black chip is worth two, four or five reds. In order to play, players buy in by buying a certain number of chips. This usually means buying the same amount as other players.

Some variations of poker have limits. The starting chips for a game may be two, five, or ten. This limit varies depending on the stage in the game, and the number of players in a hand. If the player with the lowest hand wins, the betting interval is over. If the player has a pair of cards, the betting interval will end, and the player may be able to play with a smaller amount of chips than he was holding when the game began.