Poker is a card game that is played all over the world. It is also one of the most popular games in North America, where it is known as the national card game of the United States. It is a card game that involves betting and bluffing. It is usually played with chips, which are often red or green in color.
The game may be played in casinos, at private homes, or on the Internet. Poker is played with any number of players. The ideal number is six to eight.
The best hand is a combination of five cards. This includes three of the same suit, plus an ace, which is sometimes treated as the lowest card in the deck. The simplest possible hand is a a straight, which is five cards in sequential order.
A poker showdown occurs when more than one player remains. This occurs in most poker variants. However, there are also side pots. In a side pot, a player may be awarded the main pot even if other players are in contention for the prize.
The poker name is likely to have been inspired by a French word for pocket, poque. Some say the game is related to the Persian game of as nas. It is believed that the French settlers of New Orleans were taught to play by Persian sailors.
There are hundreds of variations of the game. A few of the more interesting ones include pineapple poker, community card poker, and split-pot poker. Some of these variations were introduced around 1900, while others are credited to the American Civil War.