Probably the most popular form of poker is the Texas Hold’em game, which is played by a group of people around a circular table. Each player is dealt two cards, and the players bet in one round. Those who make the best hand win the pot. There are several variations of poker, but the two most common are Hold’em and Omaha. The latter is played with a fixed limit, which means that players can’t bet more than the limit.

The game has been around for a long time, with some scholars claiming it has European roots. However, recent scholarship disputes this. The earliest recorded version of poker was probably a 17th century French game called poque. The word poker comes from the Spanish primero, a game that made its way to the New World via the French settlers.

In a traditional game of poker, each player is dealt two cards, which he must match in order to win the pot. The best hand is typically the best five-card combination. The lowest hand is usually a pair of jacks or aces.

The ante is a small bet which usually amounts to the minimum bet in the game. In Texas Hold’em, the ante is $1 or $5. The limit in draw poker is typically double the previous amount.

The pot is the aggregate of all bets made in the game. The pot can be won by making the best hand, by bluffing, or by making a bet that no one else calls.