Before a player can play poker, he or she must make a minimum ante, or bet, in order to participate. The amount of the ante is based on the stakes of the game. For example, if everyone involved is betting $25, the minimum ante would be $10. If the ante is more than $10, the player should fold. In many poker variations, an ante bet is required before each round. This prevents the game from going too long, and it also keeps each player invested in every round.

After the betting phase has been completed, players reveal their cards. Only players who have not folded have a chance to win. During this phase, players reveal their cards, clockwise around the table. During this phase, the player whose hand is higher wins the pot. Depending on the game variation, the player who begins this phase is known as the ante. If a player has an ace, a high-card hand will win the pot.

The name of the game, “poke”, is related to French poque and German pochen. The word is not clear as to whether the origins of poker lie in the games with those names. According to some sources, “poke” is closely related to the Persian game as nas. Perhaps Persian sailors taught French settlers in New Orleans the game. Regardless of its origins, poker is believed to have been played in Europe, Asia, and Africa.