The game of Poker has a history that goes back centuries. The word poker is derived from several earlier games. Jonathan H. Green, who is credited with attaching the word “poker” to the game, observed it being played on a Mississippi riverboat and wrote about it in his diary. In the journal, he described a game of two to four people using twenty cards and only the Aces. Since then, the game has evolved to include community card poker and lowball variations.

A game of poker may involve as many as six or eight players. Players bet on each round of the game, thereby forming a pot, the sum of all bets placed in the game. The player with the best poker hand and no one calling his bet will win the pot. Nevertheless, the game of Poker can be won by many players, and the player with the best hand may win the entire pot. Consequently, players need to understand the game well to enjoy it.

Many forms of poker involve betting. The most common type is Texas Hold’Em. Players begin the game by placing an ante, or a small buy-in bet. The ante is usually a dollar or five, and is determined by the table’s decision to play the game. After the ante is placed, the dealer deals two cards to each player. The player can then decide whether to bet, fold, check, or raise.