The game of poker is a game of chance that can involve a lot of strategy. The game is based on betting, which increases the skill involved. This primer will provide a basic overview of the game’s rules, and further reading will include more detailed explanations. Ultimately, the outcome of any poker hand is a matter of chance, but player actions and probability, psychology and game theory all play a role in determining a player’s long-term expectations.

The origin of the game of poker isn’t fully understood, though some people believe that it came from Persia. However, the earliest known version in Europe was probably a 17th century French game called poque, from which we get our modern word poker. It evolved alongside the German poker and Spanish primero, and eventually made its way to the New World via French settlers. Today, there are many variations of the game, ranging from the casual card game to the high-stakes tournaments.

A poker hand is determined by two distinct pairs of cards, or four of a kind. When two players have four of a kind, the higher card wins. If more than one person has a five of a kind hand, the higher card wins. However, in some variations, a five-card hand is not sufficient for a winning hand. In these situations, a higher-ranking card is needed. Likewise, a pair of sevens can be a winning hand, as long as it contains four or five of a kind.