Originally played in Persia, poker may have originated in the 17th century French game poque. The name of the game may also come from a Spanish game called primero, or from a German word, pochen.
The game is played by a group of people around a circular table. Cards are dealt to each player. The player with the best hand wins the pot. The best hand is made of five cards. A straight hand is five cards in sequential order, while a flush is five cards of the same suit in any order.
Poker is usually played with a group of up to eight players. The player with the highest poker hand is the first bettor. In some versions, players are required to make a forced bet before they are dealt cards. In other variations, players are allowed to raise. A forced bet is a bet that cannot be folded. These forms of bets are also known as bluffs.
Each player is dealt two cards, which can be face up or face down. Cards may also be hidden. After the first round of dealing, a betting interval is held. This interval allows players to see their cards, make a decision, or fold.
The dealer will deal cards one at a time, starting with the player on the left of the dealer button. The dealer button is a white plastic disk. It indicates the nominal dealer and positions each player at the table. The button moves clockwise after each hand.
