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'''Poker''' is a game which people play with a normal set (or ''deck'') of 52 [[playing cards|cards]].   Poker is a [[gambling]] game which involves some luck, but also some skill. In poker, players make bets against each other depending on the value of their poker [[hand]]. Bets are usually made with plastic or ceramic discs called ''chips''.  Bets may also be made with real money, but chips are more often used because they are easier to handle and count. At the end of the game, players either swap their chips for money, or the chips are counted to determine the order of winners.

[[File:US Navy 090620-N-2798F-033 Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 compete in a Texas Hold 'Em Poker tournament aboard Harry S. Truman.jpg|thumb|A [[Texas hold 'em]] match in progress. Hold 'em is a popular form of poker in the [[USA]].]]

There are many different kinds of poker. In [[draw poker]], each player is dealt five cards.  A player can decide to throw away a number of these cards and then take (''draw'') new cards to replace them.  

'''Poker''' is a game which people play with a normal set (or ''deck'') of 52 [[playing cards|cards]]. Poker is a [[gambling]] game which involves some luck, but also some skill.  In poker, players make bets against each other depending on the value of their poker [[hand]]. Bets are usually made with plastic or ceramic discs called ''chips''.  Bets may also be made with real money, but chips are more often used because they are easier to handle and count. At the end of the game, players either swap their chips for money, or the chips are counted to determine the order of winners.

In stud poker (for example, [[seven-card stud]]), some of each player's cards are laid (''face-up'') on the table so that the other players can see them.  In community card poker (for example, [[Texas hold 'em]]), players share some of their cards in the center of the table.

 

In stud poker (for example, [[seven-card stud]]), some of each player's cards are laid (''face-up'') on the table so that the other players can see them.  In community card poker (for example, [[Texas hold 'em]]), players share some of their cards in the center of the table.<ref>Reuben, Stewart 2001. ''Starting out in Poker''. London: Everyman/Mind Sports. ISBN 1-85744-272-5 Basic teaching text, explains terms, gives advice.</ref>

==History==

==History==

The history of poker is a matter of some debate.  The name of the game likely descended from the [[French language|French]] ''poque'', which descended from the [[German language|German]] ''pochen'' ('to knock'), but it is not clear whether the origins of poker itself lie with the games bearing those names.  It closely resembles the [[Iran|Persia]]n game of ''as nas'', and may have been taught to French settlers in [[New Orleans]] by Persian sailors.  It is commonly regarded as sharing ancestry with the [[Renaissance]] game of ''[[primero]]'' and the French ''brelan''.  The [[England|English]] game ''[[Three card brag|brag]]'' (earlier bragg) clearly descended from ''brelan'' and incorporated bluffing (though the concept was known in other games by that time).  It is quite possible that all of these earlier games influenced the development of poker as it exists now.

The history of poker is a matter of some debate.  The name of the game likely descended from the [[French language|French]] ''poque'', which descended from the [[German language|German]] ''pochen'' ('to knock'), but it is not clear whether the origins of poker itself lie with the games bearing those names.  It closely resembles the [[Iran|Persia]]n game of ''as nas'', and may have been taught to French settlers in [[New Orleans]] by Persian sailors.  It is commonly regarded as sharing ancestry with the [[Renaissance]] game of ''[[primero]]'' and the French ''brelan''.  The [[England|English]] game ''[[Three card brag|brag]]'' (earlier bragg) clearly descended from ''brelan'' and incorporated bluffing (though the concept was known in other games by that time).  It is quite possible that all of these earlier games influenced the development of poker as it exists now.

English actor [[Joseph Crowell]] reported that the game was played in New Orleans in [[1829]], with a deck of 20 cards, four players betting on which player's hand was the most valuable. Jonathan H. Green's book, ''An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling'' (G. B. Zieber, Philadelphia, [[1843]]), described the spread of the game from there to the rest of the country by [[Mississippi]] [[riverboat]]s, on which [[gambling]] was a common pastime.

English actor [[Joseph Crowell]] reported that the game was played in New Orleans in 1829, with a deck of 20 cards, four players betting on which player's hand was the most valuable. <ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.sbo360.com/|title=poker betting> Poker Betting|website=sbo360|language=en|access-date=2017-06-11}}</ref> Jonathan H. Green's book, ''An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling'' (G. B. Zieber, Philadelphia, 1843), described the spread of the game from there to the rest of the country by [[Mississippi]] [[riverboat]]s, on which [[gambling]] was a common pastime.

Soon after this spread, the full 52-card English deck was used, and the [[flush (poker)|flush]] was introduced.  During the [[American Civil War]], many additions were made, including [[draw poker]], [[stud poker]] (the five-card variant), and the [[Straight (poker)|straight]].  Further American developments followed, such as the [[Wild card (poker) |wild card]] (around [[1875]]), [[lowball]] and [[High-low split|split-pot poker]] (around [[1900]]), and [[community card poker]] games (around [[1925]]).  Spread of the game to other countries, particularly in [[Asia]], is often attributed to the [[United States armed forces|U.S. military]].

Soon after this spread, the full 52-card English deck was used, and the [[flush (poker)|flush]] was introduced.  During the [[American Civil War]], many additions were made, including [[draw poker]], [[stud poker]] (the five-card variant), and the [[Straight (poker)|straight]].  Further American developments followed, such as the [[Wild card (poker)|wild card]] (around 1875), [[lowball]] and [[High-low split|split-pot poker]] (around 1900), and [[community card poker]] games (around 1925).  Spread of the game to other countries, particularly in [[Asia]], is often attributed to the [[United States armed forces|U.S. military]].

The game and [[Poker jargon|jargon]] of poker have become important parts of American culture and English culture.  Such phrases as ''[[ace in the hole]]'', ''beats me'', ''[[blue chip]]'', ''call the bluff'', ''cash in'', ''[[buck (poker)|pass the buck]]'', ''poker face'', ''stack up'', ''up the ante'', ''when the chips are down'', ''[[wild card]]'', and others are used in everyday conversation even by those unaware of their origins at the poker table.

The game and [[Poker jargon|jargon]] of poker have become important parts of American culture and English culture.  Such phrases as ''[[ace in the hole]]'', ''beats me'', ''[[blue chip]]'', ''call the bluff'', ''cash in'', ''[[buck (poker)|pass the buck]]'', ''poker face'', ''stack up'', ''up the ante'', ''when the chips are down'', ''[[wild card]]'', and others are used in everyday conversation even by those unaware of their origins at the poker table.

Modern [[Poker tournament|tournament]] play became popular in American casinos after the [[World Series of Poker]] began in [[1970]].  It was also during that decade that the first serious strategy books appeared, notably ''The Theory of Poker'' by [[David Sklansky]] (ISBN 1880685000), ''Super System'' by [[Doyle Brunson]] (ISBN 1580420818),  and ''The Book of Tells'' by [[Mike Caro]] (ISBN 0897461002).

Modern [[Poker tournament|tournament]] play became popular in American casinos after the [[World Series of Poker]] began in 1970.  It was also during that decade that the first serious strategy books appeared, notably ''The Theory of Poker'' by [[David Sklansky]] ({{ISBN|1880685000}}), ''Super System'' by [[Doyle Brunson]] ({{ISBN|1580420818}}),  and ''The Book of Tells'' by [[Mike Caro]] ({{ISBN|0897461002}}).

Poker’s popularity has experienced an unprecedented spike in recent years, largely due to the introduction of [[online poker]] and the invention of the hole-card camera which finally turned the game into a [[spectator sport]]. Viewers can now follow the action and drama of the game, and broadcasts of poker tournaments such as the [[World Series of Poker]] and the [[World Poker Tour]] have brought in huge audiences for cable and satellite TV distributors.

Poker’s popularity has experienced an unprecedented spike in recent years, largely due to the introduction of [[online poker]] and the invention of the hole-card camera which finally turned the game into a [[spectator sport]]. Viewers can now follow the action and drama of the game, and broadcasts of poker tournaments such as the [[World Series of Poker]] and the [[World Poker Tour]] have brought in huge audiences for cable and satellite TV distributors.

*'''One pair:''' Two cards of the same rank

*'''One pair:''' Two cards of the same rank

*'''High card:''' If no one has a pair, the highest card wins

*'''High card:''' If no one has a pair, the highest card wins

== Poker variations ==

== Poker variations ==

*[[Seven card stud]]

*[[Seven card stud]]

[[Category:Poker| ]]

[[Category:Poker| ]]