While the origins of Poker are obscure, the game’s bluffing and misdirection spirit has been around since ancient times. The game’s earliest known form is probably poque, a 17th-century French card game that later developed into German pochen, a new version of primero. It is played worldwide, from private homes to famous casinos and over the Internet. Because poker is so popular, it has been called the national card game of the United States, and has permeated American culture.
After the final betting round, the cards are turned face up. If there are callers during the final round of betting, the hand will move to the showdown. If no callers remain and no one has gone all-in before the final betting round, the hand will move on to the next betting round. The remaining players may also be betting into a side pot, which is separate from the main pot. This side pot contains additional money bet by players in a game, which can have many participants. A player who is all-in will only win the pot to which he contributed.
The highest hand wins in a game of poker. The winner is the player who has the highest-ranked hand. If there are no higher-ranked hands, ties are broken by the high-card. If there are two pairs with the same value, then the second pair will win. A player can also win if he or she has a straight or better pair. But if a tie arises, the high-card wins.