poker

views updated May 23 2018

pok·er1 / ˈpōkər/ • n. a metal rod with a handle, used for prodding and stirring an open fire.pok·er2 • n. a card game played by two or more people who bet on the value of the hands dealt to them. A player wins the pool either by having the highest combination at the showdown or by forcing all opponents to concede without a showing of the hand, sometimes by means of bluff.

poker

views updated May 14 2018

poker a card game played by two or more people who bet on the value of the hands dealt to them. A player wins the pool either by having the highest combination at the showdown or by forcing all opponents to concede without a showing of the hand, sometimes by means of bluff. Recorded from the mid 19th century, the word is of US origin, and may be related to German pochen ‘to brag’.
poker-face an impassive expression that hides one's true feelings, as typical of a poker player.

poker

views updated Jun 08 2018

poker Card game believed to have originated in Europe in the 16th century. Basically a gambling game, the object is to win the pot (all the bets that are made after each card is dealt) by holding the best combination of cards (in same suit, in pairs or triples, or in numerical sequence), or by bluffing the other players into withdrawing.

poker

views updated May 21 2018

poker2 card-game, a variety of brag. XIX. orig. U.S., of doubtful orig., but cf. G. poch(spiel) ‘bragging game’, f. pochen brag, perh. cogn. with POKE2.