The origins of poker are a bit hazy. Some speculate that the word “poker” comes from the game played by card hustlers. These players used the word as slang to cheat their unsuspecting opponents. The “r” may have been added to make it harder to understand by other players who already knew the slang. Regardless of the origins of the word, poker is a simple game that involves a certain element of cheating and misdirection.
In Poker, betting intervals vary by variation. One player is obligated or given the privilege to make the first bet, known as the ante. Each player is required to place a certain amount of chips into the pot equal to the contribution of the previous player. This player is said to be an “active” player. However, a player who is not actively betting can raise the bet of the player who raised it. Usually, the ante is capped at $500.
When two players have the same high pair, the high pair or card wins. In tie games, the high card breaks the tie if both players have the same high pair. In games of high card, the dealer may cut from one hand to break a tie. The dealer must offer the shuffled pack to an opponent who is ready to bet. In poker, the dealer must make a cut from a hand before offering the next.