Poker is a game of skill, luck and strategy played by a group of players around a circular table. The objective of poker is to collect chips from your opponents by winning the hand.

A game of poker may have existed before the American Civil War. There are also rumors that the game originated in Persia. However, the earliest version of poker probably was a French game called poque.

Poker is usually played with a number of players, but can be played with just one. Usually, a round of betting occurs before the cards are dealt.

There are many different ways to play a poker game, each with their own rules. Several variants are popular, including Omaha, Texas Hold’em, and Seven Card Stud. All these games have some similarities, but each has its own set of rules.

Each player is dealt a hand of five cards. Some games have a specific rank for each card. The highest card is generally a straight, while the lowest is a pair of aces.

In a typical poker game, a pot is awarded to the player with the highest-ranking hand. During the final round of betting, more than one player may remain in contention. If the pot is not won by the end of the betting, then the showdown takes place. This is when the cards are revealed, and the winner is the person with the best hand.

Typical poker games require a minimum hand to make the first bet. Depending on the game, the minimum hand might be a pair of jacks or a five-card hand.