Poker is a game of chance, misdirection, and bluffing. Although the actual origins of the game are not known, the word poker probably comes from the 17th-century French game of poque. The game evolved into German pochen, a form of primero. As with most games, the English word came from the French, who also brought the sport to North America. Originally, the word “poker” is derived from the French word for house.

The rules of poker are based on the principles of probability. The aim of the game is to beat your opponents’ hands in one or more rounds. As long as you beat your opponent, you can win the pot. In most forms of poker, players make a compulsory bet at the start of the game. This bet is called the ante. If you win the pot, you lose all your chips. The winner of a game depends on how well you know your hand.

The game is played with poker chips. When a game has seven or more players, you should supply poker chips for each player. A white chip is the lowest value and is worth five or ten. A red chip is worth twenty or thirty-five whites, while a blue chip is worth two, four, or five reds. When you play poker, you buy in by purchasing chips, which will be shared by all players. If you win, you are said to be the active player.