Poker Pronunciation: 'pO-k&r
Function: noun
Etymology: probably modification of French poque, a card game
similar to poker
: any of a variety of card games in which players bet
that the value of their hand is greater than that of those
held by others, in which each subsequent player must either
equal or raise the bet or fold (drop out), and in which the
player holding the highest hand at the end of the betting
wins the pot in poker.
Poker is a family of card games almost
exclusively played as a gambling game. Although poker is
played everywhere, it is currently most popular in North America.
A poker hand is usually five cards.
Participants try for combinations such as two of a kind, five card
sequences, or five cards of the same suit (see our ranking of hands
page for more information).
Poker is
played with a standard deck (52 cards) of which all suits are
equally valued. The cards rank from the ace high, to the King,
Queen, Jack, and the numbered cards 10 to the deuce. The ace
can also be considered a low card to form a straight (Ace through
five) as well as a high card (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10).
Each poker game is a separate deal, in which
the pot consists of the aggregate of the initial ante, and
all bets made. The game proceeds with one or more rounds of
betting, with the pot being taken by the player with the best
hand (or the best poker face). In some forms of poker,
the pot may be divided between two or more players in poker.
Poker History
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