Whether you play poker online or live, there are several different variations of the game to choose from. The game is played by a group of players around a circular or oval table. They take turns betting. The winner is the player with the best hand. Poker has been around since at least the 17th century, though there is some controversy as to where it originated. Some believe it came from a Persian game called As-Nas. However, there has been much scholarship in recent years pointing to the game as having a European origin.

A good hand is a combination of five cards in a single suit. A straight is a sequential sequence of five cards, while a flush is five cards in a single suit. Similarly, a high card is the highest card in your hand, while an ace is the lowest.

There are several different types of poker games, but the most popular are community card poker and Texas Hold’em. A player may make a small or large bet, or raise or fold. All bets are gathered into a central pot at the end of the round. A player who bets or raises the pot will win all of the chips in the pot, while a player who folds will forfeit all of the chips.

The best possible hand is known as the “nuts” and is the highest possible combination of five cards. A “backdoor flush” is achieved by hitting a pair of aces on the turn or river.