Poker is a card game in which players make bets on their hands. Each player receives a single card, either face-up or face-down. Each player in a hand may place bets on the hand for different strategic reasons. The outcome of a poker hand is always a matter of chance, but the actions of players and the theory of the game determine long-run expectations.
There are two main types of Poker, Draw Poker and Stud Poker. In Draw Poker, all cards are dealt face-down, while in Stud Poker, some cards are dealt face-up. In both games, other players can see part of each player’s hand. Players in Draw Poker often play with stripped decks, which include deuces and treys. A typical game can have up to eight players.
There are various variations of Poker, including Three-Card Monte and Spit-in-the-Ocean. These variations are described later in this chapter. In larger games with more than 10 players, two separate games may be set up. Despite the number of players, the fundamental rules of Poker remain the same.
Each player has two cards in their hands and five cards on the table. After revealing their hands, the other players must match their bet and decide who has the best hand. The winner of the game is the player who has the best hand.