The Basics of Poker
Regardless of where you play poker, you’ll need a set of cards to play the game. Most games use a standard 52-card deck, with four of each kind and four different suits. While you can use cash to play poker, most games require that you use chips. Chips are easier to keep track of, count, and make change with. This is why players prefer to use chips instead of cash. Each chip represents a different dollar amount.
The best hand in poker is a straight flush, which is five cards of the same suit. The ace can be high or low, but it cannot wrap around the other cards in a straight flush. A straight flush is even more powerful, though it’s rarer than the royal flush. But even if you don’t have a royal flush, it’s still a good hand. And if you’re looking for a more lucrative hand, try playing with a straight, or a high card in your hand.
Other variations of the game include Three-Card Monte and Spit-in-the-Ocean. A full explanation of all the variations of the game is included later in this chapter. You can also find similar games from other countries. Many people attribute the spread of the game to the U.S. military. However, it’s not completely clear where the game originated from. Regardless of where it’s from, it’s clear that poker’s popularity spread globally.