| As playing poker become more and more popular, | | | | previously dealt cards are replaced. All bets are |
| it is increasingly more important for every day | | | | gathered into the central pot. |
| people to understand the importance of the | | | | When players bet during the betting round, |
| game. Many people will be asked to play or watch | | | | opponents are required to fold, call or raise. If no |
| the game in social situations and knowing how to | | | | opponents choose to match the bet or raise, the |
| play the game and knowing how the game works | | | | hand ends immediately and the bettor wins the |
| can make playing and watching more interesting | | | | pot. No cards are required to be shown and the |
| and more fun. No one wants to be left out and | | | | next hand begins. Because the hand is not |
| the game provides an excellent past time for | | | | revealed, bluffing is possible. |
| people of all ages and backgrounds. | | | | If more than one player remains at the end of |
| Poker is a card game that requires that players | | | | the last betting round, there will be a showdown. |
| vie for a central pot full of chips that may or may | | | | All remaining players must reveal their hands. The |
| not represent money. The pot is awarded to the | | | | player with the best hand ranking wins the pot. |
| player with the best combination of cards or to | | | | The three most popular variants of poker are |
| the player who makes an uncalled bet. | | | | draw poker, stud poker and community card |
| Poker is a game with hundreds of variations, but | | | | poker. |
| all versions follow the same basic pattern. The | | | | In draw poker, players receive five or more |
| dealing position rotates among all the players. This | | | | cards, which are hidden and then can replace |
| position is normally marked by a dealer button. In | | | | these cards a certain number of times throughout |
| a casino, a house dealer handles the cards for | | | | a hand. |
| each hand, and the button is rotated clockwise | | | | In stud poker, players receive cards one a time, |
| among the players to help the dealer determine | | | | some of which are displayed to their opponents. |
| the order of betting. | | | | In community card poker, such as the ever |
| In some versions of poker, players are required | | | | popular Texas Hold'em, players receive hidden |
| to make forced bets called blinds or antes at the | | | | pocket cards one at a time and then receive |
| beginning of each hand to help raise the action in | | | | other community cards which are displayed on |
| the game. The dealer shuffles, cuts and the cards | | | | the poker table. |
| are dealt to the players, one at a time, in a | | | | Poker has been around for hundreds of years. |
| clockwise direction. After the deal, the first of | | | | Learning at least one variation of the game is |
| several betting grounds begins. As the rounds | | | | time well spent. If you're not sure which version |
| progress, the players hands develop and the | | | | to learn, try Texas Hold'em. It's the most popular |
| betting continues as more cards are dealt or | | | | variant on the market today. |