The game of poker is played with cards and chips. Normally, a game consists of seven or more players. Poker chips come in red, blue, green and white colors. Before the game begins, a dealer assigns the chip values to each player, who can then exchange their chips for cash. To win a hand, the player must have the highest chip value. However, it is not uncommon for a player to start with a lower chip value than their opponents.

The origin of the game is unknown, but there are some theories. Some believe the game originated in ancient Persia. However, the earliest version of the game in Europe is the French game poque, which is where we get the word “poker.” The game evolved alongside German pochen and Spanish primero, and eventually made its way to the New World through French settlers. In recent years, poker has been played in many countries around the world.

When there are more than two players left, the game is known as a showdown. This is where players reveal their cards and assess their hands. The player with the best hand wins the pot. Poker hands consist of five cards. The highest hand is the highest five-card combination. It can be a straight flush, a pair of aces, a flush or four of a kind. After the players have compared their hands, the best hand is declared the winner.