Poker: Play for the Pot

Poker traces its roots back to the German game of Pochspiel, which was first recorded in the 15th century. Other game historians have also noted a connection to the Persian game of nas. A further comparison has been made with the French game of poque, where some have suggested the modern game may have taken its name.

Early variations of the game used a 20-card pack, with each player being dealt five cards. Later versions introduced the 52-card pack, more familiar to players today.

Variations of the basic poker game developed around the time of the American Civil War, including draw poker, stud (five-card) poker and the community poker family. Many phrases common in US popular culture such as calling one's bluff and when the chips are down are directly linked to the game of poker.

The winner of each variant of the game of poker is the person holding the highest ranked hand at the end of one or more rounds of betting. Alternatively, the winner is the last one standing once all other players have given up their chance of winning, or folded.

There are three main variants of poker play. These include:

Players post an initial bet, or ante, a fixed amount that ensures there is always some money in the pot. The dealer deals three cards to each player in turn. The first two cards are placed face down (called Hole cards), with the third face up (the Door card). Play continues with five rounds of betting moving clockwise around the table. Each round increases the amount in the pot, and each player who continues to play receives a further card, face up, with the final seventh card face down. Once the betting round is over, the cards are then exposed with the winner holding the best ranked hand.

Each player receives five cards, all face down. Players look at their cards in private, and can then discard any unwanted cards, receiving new cards in their place. Draw poker is the most common and well known of all the poker variants.

Players receive a number of cards played face down with a number of other cards played face up in the center of the table. These face-up cards are termed community cards as they can be used by every player round the table to complete their standard five-card hand. Texas hold-em is one of the most famous versions of community poker.

Game play begins with the dealer dealing the appropriate number of cards for the poker game variant. Cards are dealt face up or down, after which the first round of betting starts. Between each round, further betting continues until all cards have been dealt.

Betting proceeds until one player matches, or calls an earlier bet. The remaining players then equal the current bet, or raise the betting level to a higher amount. At any point in the game, players with losing hands can choose to pull out of the game, or fold.

If no player calls the current bet, or the remaining players fold, then the hand is over and the current bettor wins the round.

• Royal Flush: The highest rank in poker. Hand consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and ten, all of the same suit.
• Straight Flush: Five cards in a sequence with the top card less than the ace.
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, such as four kings, or four sixes, and so on.
• Full House: Three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank, such as three tens and two fours.
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit, but not in a sequence.
• Straight: Five cards in a sequence, from different suits.
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, such as three queens, or three nines, and so on.
• Two Pairs: Two cards of the same rank from two suits, such as two aces and two fives, and so on.
• Pair: Two cards of the same rank, such as two fours or two twos and so on.
• High Card: The highest card in the hand.

Poker without bluffing is a little like a burger without relish. It adds an element that separates the amateurs from the pros. Bluffing involves making your opponent believe that you have a strong hand, when in fact your hand may be worth very little. Good bluffers can win even when they would actually lose if all hands were played open.

Since the start of 2000, online poker has seen a dramatic rise in popularity. In the year 2005 alone, monthly online poker business amounted to $2.5 billion. There is no question that online poker has been responsible for the increased popularity of poker worldwide, both online, and in casinos.

• Create your own personal system or playing style.
• Don't fold every time you get a bad hand, or bluff every single round. Keep your opponents guessing.
• You don't have to play every hand.
• Take note of your table position. Players closest to the dealer must player early, while players close to the dealer's right can watch other players' bets before they must commit themselves.
• Don't show your folded hand at the end of a round. This is your right and keeps your playing style disguised.