Poker is a card game in which players place bets, sometimes in increments of one or two. Generally, a player needs at least 200 chips to start a game. White chips are the lowest-valued, and red, blue, and dark-colored chips are worth two, four, or five times as much as a white chip. Players “buy in” to a hand by purchasing chips and placing them in the pot. They may also be required to contribute to the pot before the game begins.

The first round of betting is known as the ante. Once all players have bet their antes, the next round is known as the blinds. In the following round, players reveal their hands, and the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. However, in some games, more than one player is still in contention. In such a case, the game is known as a showdown.

There are various theories regarding the origins of poker, but most people believe it was a game played by card hustlers on riverboats. In the 17th century, the French version of poker was called poque, and it is believed that it was originally a shortened version of a Spanish game called primero. It is thought that this game traveled to the New World via French settlers.

A low hand in poker is considered to be seven five-cards, four three-cards, and two aces. In some games, the ace is also treated as the lowest card.