The History of Poker

The history of Poker goes back centuries, but the origins of the game are murky. Many believe the word “poker” is derived from the game of card hustlers, who used slang to cheat unsuspecting opponents. The word “poker” is a composite of several games, but many people say the game was first played in the United States during the late 1700s. Jonathan H. Green is credited with attaching the word “poker” to a game he witnessed on a Mississippi riverboat. He says that he was amazed when he learned that it involved only two to four people playing with 20 cards. From there, the game evolved and reached the United States with French settlers.

There are three main betting structures in Poker. These are the fixed-limit, pot-limit, and no-limit. In fixed-limit, one player is required to bet a fixed amount before another player can raise the bet. In pot-limit, each player can bet any amount up to the size of the pot. The chips that a player has in the pot are called his or her “kitty.”

The rank of standard poker hands is based on the odds. Two identical poker hands will tie, but they will split the winnings equally. Suits are irrelevant in poker because they have no relative value in the hand’s value. Five of a kind, for instance, is the highest hand in poker and beats a straight flush. However, in no case will the value of the wild card be diminished. In the case of a tie, the highest unmatched card and any secondary pair break the tie.