The word “poker” has seedy origins. Its name may have originated from the slang word “poke” used by card hustlers to cheat unsuspecting opponents. Perhaps the “r” was added to confuse players who were familiar with slang. Regardless of the origin of the name, poker is a simple game involving an element of cheating and a chance to make money. While poker is an immensely popular card game, the term has been diluted by several different versions of poker over the years.
When playing poker, players can open the betting when no one has made a bet yet. They can also raise the ante to the minimum raise agreed upon. This process continues clockwise until someone else checks their cards. If there is a tie in ante or raise, a player may check or fold their cards. The player can then discard one to three cards or hold them. When fewer than three cards remain, a replacement card is drawn.
As with any other card game, the game of poker is played with chips. For games of seven or more players, poker chips should be provided. Poker chips come in two colors: white and red. A white chip is the lowest value. A red chip is worth five whites, while a blue chip is worth two, four, or five reds. Players “buy in” to a game by purchasing chips. Typically, each player purchases the same amount of chips in order to compete in the game.
