One of the best known card games, Poker is a classic game that has roots in both ancient and modern history. Although its origins are obscure, it probably originated as a game used by card hustlers and pickpockets to cheat unsuspecting opponents. The word “poker” originated in the 17th century and was later added to other games. A game of poker, played by two to four people using a standard deck of twenty cards, is said to have been brought to the United States by French settlers.

There are different variations of Poker, including the popular Texas Hold’em variation. For example, three-card monte, or Spit-in-the-Ocean, are variations that use fewer than five cards. All of these variations are explained later in this chapter. For groups of more than ten players, two separate games can be organized. A poker game can be fun and competitive! But for a more social gathering, a few friends can play games of Poker together and get to know each other.

Almost everyone plays poker with poker chips. If there are more than seven players, poker chips should be provided. The lowest-value chip is called a “white,” while a red chip is worth five whites. Then the player can buy in, usually with the same amount of chips. This process can be repeated several times. This is called the “dealer’s button position”.