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The Basics of Poker

The history of poker is as mysterious as the game itself. The word poker, which comes from the French for “a game of misdirection and bluffing,” is most likely derived from a 17th-century game called “poque.” That game evolved into a German version called pochen, and eventually into the more popular poker variant known as primero. This game was brought to North America by French settlers, who helped it spread.

In poker, the goal is to win the pot, the total of all bets placed by the various players during the course of a hand. Players wager money to show the best hand or convince other players to fold. Although money is not as important as the winning hand, every dollar saved is just as valuable. Knowing when to bet and when to fold a hand is critical. The best poker hand has a pair of aces, two kings, and one or more two-of-a-kind cards.

There are other terms in poker that can help improve your game. The first is WTSD, which stands for “went to showdown”. The second is WWSF, which stands for “won when you saw the flop.”