The Object of the Game, the Deck, the Number of Players
The general object of poker is for a group of players to bet on the value of their individual hands for the purpose of winning a combined “pot” (or “pool”) of money formed by the player’s wagers.
Winning and losing (amongst all variations of poker) is dependant on two things: First, how many players are left in the “showdown”; Second, amongst those players left, whose hand is ranked the highest. There are almost always several levels / stages of betting, and players who feel they have a weak hand can drop out at any time (conversely, they may pretend they have a strong hand and bluff, hoping others drop out). If more than one person is left at the final showdown, then the highest ranked hand wins. However, it is entirely possible for everyone but the last person to drop out, meaning that the “last man standing” wins the pot (apologies to the ladies – it’s just an expression. In many cases, there is indeed a last woman standing!)
Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards with four suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades), and 13 cards in each suit. The cards suits contain the following types of cards (from highest value to lowest): Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and the numbers ten through two. These cards are used to form specific ranked “hands” (please note: the Ace can be used as both the highest card, and the lowest, but never both in the same hand.) Some venues, especially private games, may include a joker or two in the deck, but this is typically not a part of professional play.
An average poker game consists of anywhere from four to seven players, but the amount of players can range from as few as two people to up to ten people or more. However, it is important to remember that strategy comes into play, and in many poker variations, part of that strategy is knowing what cards have already been played. So in the case of a larger group, the type of game played becomes paramount (since there cannot be more players than 52 cards can accommodate. However, variations like “Texas Hold 'Em” can accommodate quite a large group.)
In lieu of money, poker chips are often used instead of actual currency during casino and tournament play. These metal, plastic, or clay chips are labeled in various denominations, allowing for the same types of bets used as standard money, but makes theft and counterfeiting more difficult.
