Poker is a card game where each player has a certain number of chips. Most poker variants have betting intervals, with the first player to bet having the privilege and obligation to do so. When another player raises, a player must either call or fold. Poker chips come in various colors, including red, white, black, and blue. Before a game starts, the poker dealer assigns a value to each chip. The dealer exchanges cash from each player for chips.

The aim of the game in poker is to get the best possible hand that can beat the opponent’s hand. After the players have finished betting, the highest hand wins the pot. The pot is the sum of all the money bet during the hand. If the hand is a draw, the pot is split equally among the players.

While the origin of poker remains unknown, it is generally believed to have originated in Persia, where it is a common gentleman’s game. The first European version of poker, called poque, emerged in the 17th century. From there, the game branched out into Germany and the New World, thanks to French settlers.

The lowest possible hand is a pair of aces or sevens of a suit. Some games, however, treat the ace as the lowest card. If the hand has two pairs, the dealer is the dealer. The highest hand is five of a kind, which beats a straight flush.