Several versions of poker exist. Some use a single deck of cards, while others use multiple decks. These variations often use wild cards. Some also include jokers.
Some games divide the pot into high and low hands. Typical poker games reward the pot to the highest hand. The highest hand is a combination of two pairs plus the fifth card. It may be a straight, flush, or five of a kind. It is often used as the final showdown.
One player is designated the dealer. He or she is the one who is responsible for the first bet, which may be a blind bet. Other players will be required to contribute to the pot before the deal. Some games require players to make an ante.
A high card is a great way to break ties when multiple players have the same high card. The highest card outside of a four of a kind wins the pot when there are two four of a kind with the same rank.
One of the oldest forms of poker was a game known as poque. It is thought to have originated in Persia and may have been developed during the 17th century by French settlers. The game evolved into the Spanish primero, and then into the U.S. military.
The earliest known poker variant may have originated in a 17th century French game called poque. Other versions have been developed during the American Civil War, including stud, lowball, and split-pot poker.