Poker is a card game where players place bets based on the strength of their hand. The game of poker is an international pastime and has many variations. While the origins of poker are unclear, many believe that it began as a game in ancient Persia. In the 17th century, a version of the game was played in France called poque, from which the word poker derives. It evolved along with the German game pochen and the Spanish game primero and eventually found its way to the New World.

The number of players in a game of poker varies, but the ideal number is six or eight. The sum of all bets placed by all players in a single deal is called the pot. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot. To be the pot winner, a player must have a high hand or place a bet that no one else calls.

If a player has a high hand, they can attempt to hit a backdoor flush. This is possible by hitting the needed cards on the turn and river. Usually, players who hit a backdoor flush will have a large statistical advantage.