Poker is a card game where players place bets on the board. Each player must ante an amount that varies by game. When a player has a strong hand, he may place his bet into the pot. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. The betting is done in a clockwise manner. There are three basic betting options: fold, raise, and reraise.

The earliest known version of poker originated in the 17th century and is referred to as poque. This French version evolved into the German pochen and the Spanish primero, before being brought to North America by French settlers. The game has been adapted to the present day by many countries, but its origin is uncertain.

The hands of players in poker consist of five cards. The value of a hand varies with mathematical frequency, and the highest possible hand is called a “nuts.” A player can also bluff, by betting the hand he has, if he does not have it. A bluff is a way to win by luring other players into thinking you have the best hand.

Poker hands are ranked by their odds of winning. If two players have identical hands, they split the pot. If a straight is tied, the higher card wins. For example, AKQJT beats KQJT9, but a straight flush beats both. The highest pair wins, but a low pair splits the pot.