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Poker is a popular type of card game in which players bet on the value of the card combination ("hand") in their possession, by placing a bet into a central pot. The winner is the one who holds the hand with the highest value according to an established hand rankings hierarchy, or otherwise the player who remains "in the hand" after all others have folded (the player who makes an un-called bet.).

Poker has many variations, all following a similar pattern of play. Depending on the variant, hands may be formed using cards which are concealed from others, or from a combination of concealed cards and community cards.

In casual play, the right to deal a hand typically rotates among the players and is marked by a token called a 'dealer' button (or "buck"). In a casino, a house dealer handles the cards for each hand, but the button (typically a white plastic disk) is rotated clockwise among the players to indicate a nominal dealer to determine the order of betting.

One or more players are required to make forced bets (usually called a 'blind' or an 'ante') to create an initial stake for which the players will contest. The dealer shuffles the cards, cuts, and deals the appropriate number of cards to the players one at a time. Cards may be dealt either face-up or face-down, depending on the variant of poker being played. After the initial deal, the first of what may be several betting rounds begins. Between rounds, the players' hands develop in some way, often by being dealt additional cards or replacing cards previously dealt. At the end of each round, all bets are gathered into the central pot.

At any time during a betting round, if one player bets and no opponents choose to call (match) the bet, the hand ends immediately, the bettor is awarded the pot, no cards are required to be shown, and the next hand begins. This is what makes bluffing possible. Bluffing is a primary feature of poker, one that distinguishes it from other vying games and from other games that make use of poker hand rankings.

At the end of the last betting round, if more than one player remains, there is a showdown, in which the players reveal their previously hidden cards and evaluate their hands. The player with the best hand according to the poker variant being played wins the pot. A poker hand consists of five cards, but in some variants a player has more than five to choose from.

The most popular poker variants are as follows:

Draw poker

Players each receive five — as in five-card draw — or more cards, all of which are hidden. They can then replace one or more of these cards a certain number of times.

Stud poker

Players each receive five — as in five-card stud — or more cards; some cards are dealt face up, one at a time, and displayed to other players at the table. The key differences between stud and 'draw' poker are that players are not allowed to discard or replace any cards in stud poker and that part of a players' hand in stud is exposed rather than the entire hand being hidden as in draw.
Community card poker
Players combine individually dealt cards with a number of "community cards" dealt face up and shared by all players. Each player will attempt to make the best five card poker hand using the community cards and their own face down cards. Two or four individual cards are dealt in the most popular variations, Texas hold 'em and Omaha hold 'em, respectively.

 Poker News 

Mac laments the rise of poker over tennis on US TV - Tennistalk.com

Tennistalk.com

Mac laments the rise of poker over tennis on US TV Tennistalk.com "If you had told me poker would out-rate tennis 25 years ago, I would have laughed at you," the 52-year-old told California media as he prepared for a senior exho prior to the ATP San Jose indoor tournament. "For that matter, golf, bowling, ... SAP Open: After all these years, John McEnroe still one of the faces of US tennisSan Jose Mercury News all 11 news articles »

Posted on 13 February 2012 | 6:52 am

A Look At The Upcoming Week In Tournament Poker - CardPlayer.com

CardPlayer.com

A Look At The Upcoming Week In Tournament Poker CardPlayer.com by Erik Fast | Published: Feb 12, 2012 In this new Card Player feature we are looking to provide our readers with a guide to some of the biggest poker events taking place in their area for the upcoming week. Check out all the tournament action set to ... and more »

Posted on 13 February 2012 | 5:27 am

SC's ex-top cop among those defending video gaming - CanadianBusiness.com

SC's ex-top cop among those defending video gaming CanadianBusiness.com Until July, Reggie Lloyd was chief of the State Law Enforcement Division, the state police agency charged with seizing and destroying the video poker machines that have been illegal in South Carolina since 2000. An attorney in private practice in ... and more »

Posted on 13 February 2012 | 4:24 am

2012 World Poker Tour Lucky Hearts Poker Open Day 1b: Juttelstad Shoots To the Top - PokerNews.com

Ante Up Magazine

2012 World Poker Tour Lucky Hearts Poker Open Day 1b: Juttelstad Shoots To the Top PokerNews.com Day 1b of the World Poker Tour Lucky Hearts Poker Open held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino wrapped up on Saturday. Joining the 125 players from Day 1a in the 00 buy-in event were another 170 players, to put the total number of entrants at ... 2012 World Poker Tour Lucky Hearts Poker Open Day 1a: Mercier Fast out of the GateAnte Up Magazine WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Day 1B: Matt Juttelstad Takes Overall Lead, 112 ...Poker News Daily WPT: Matt Juttelstad Takes Overall Lead Into Day 2Bluff Magazine all 5 news articles »

Posted on 13 February 2012 | 4:21 am

The Weekly Turbo: Nikolay Evdakov Passes Away, .5 Million Owed to FTP, and More - PokerNews.com

DigitalJournal.com

The Weekly Turbo: Nikolay Evdakov Passes Away, .5 Million Owed to FTP, and More PokerNews.com Miss any of the top poker news stories this week? We're here to get you caught up on everything from the .5 million owed to Full Tilt Poker, to the untimely death of Nikolay Evadakov, and much more. On Monday, Laurent Tapie confirmed reports that ... Op-Ed: Yet more poker tyranny by the American GovernmentDigitalJournal.com all 3 news articles »

Posted on 13 February 2012 | 3:35 am

Poker Leads The Way As 888 Posts Major 2011 Growth - Eat My Stack

Poker Leads The Way As 888 Posts Major 2011 Growth Eat My Stack Online gaming company 888 Holdings has reported record full year revenues of 1 million, up 26% on the previous year, with its online poker operation leading the way. Revenue from poker rose 58% to m from m in 2010. Figures from online tracking ... Online Gambling Rises on RecessionBingoSupermarket all 2 news articles »

Posted on 13 February 2012 | 1:40 am

Packer shifts gaming chips - Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney Morning Herald

Packer shifts gaming chips Sydney Morning Herald The proposal was that gamblers would be forced to sign up to a system that, at a nominated limit, shut off their access to poker machines. Poker machines generate billion a year in income and lobby group Clubs Australia estimated mandatory ... Big stakes to win over China high rollersBrisbane Times all 9 news articles »

Posted on 12 February 2012 | 11:21 pm

Fox Poker Club Main Event Day 2: 42 Players Remain - PokerNews.com

PokerNews.com

Fox Poker Club Main Event Day 2: 42 Players Remain PokerNews.com The monthly Fox Poker Club Main Event kicked off yesterday afternoon and by the time registration had officially closed a total of 141 players had paid the £300+£30 buy-in, creating a prize pool of £42300. Throughout the afternoon and evening there was ...

Posted on 12 February 2012 | 9:23 pm

Poker Q-and-A: Attacking an attacker - Chicago Tribune

Poker Q-and-A: Attacking an attacker Chicago Tribune Your question illuminates a major aspect of the game -- the part of poker that is a mind game. Part of being a winning player is your ability to read opponents. That doesn't just mean their physical tells when they play a hand -- you need to be able to ...

Posted on 12 February 2012 | 7:42 pm

Greek Poker Analogies Fly As Default Looms - Online Poker.net

Online Poker.net

Greek Poker Analogies Fly As Default Looms Online Poker.net With Greece's economy in tatters and the bailout deal with Germany and the Eurozone finance ministers nearing its conclusion, poker analogies have been flying as the two countries attempt to hammer out the best terms for a “haircut. Greek far-right leader rejects bailoutReuters all 5,673 news articles »

Posted on 11 February 2012 | 3:16 am