In its modern form, poker has become a global phenomenon, with millions of people playing it online, on TV, and even in their pajamas. Although the game has a long and storied history, its origins remain obscure. But it’s likely that the game dates back to the 17th century in France, when it was first called poque, from which we get the word “poker.” From there, it evolved into a different game in Germany, which was later renamed primero. French settlers brought the game to North America, where it became known as poker.

In poker, players use chips to make bets. These chips can be in a variety of colors, and the dealer assigns values to the chips before the game starts. The dealer then exchanges players’ cash for their chips, which have been tallied up. The dealer then deals out cards to the players, and shuffles the cards after each hand. Deuces are cards with the designation “2” on them, while other cards have no value at all.

A player who declines to place a bet is said to “drop” or “fold.” If a player has a pair, then he is called the “jack.”