Of the many variants of the traditional card game of poker, Tens or Better is one of the most popular. This version is easy for the beginner to pick up, and it can produce games of great excitement for novices and experts alike. Poker has been played in one form or another in various places around the world. However, it was in the United States that it became established as one of the most widely played of all gambling card games.

Historians suggest that the game originated with the French game called "Poque", or the German game of "Pochen". However, there is no doubt that it was in the USA that the game captured the imagination of the gambling public. Phrases such as "poker face", "up the ante" and "pass the buck" all originated from this popular card game, and are now part of modern parlance quite unrelated to poker.

After placing an initial stake, playing the Tens or Better involves an initial deal of five cards to each player, all played face down. After assessing their hands, players may then discard any, all or none of the cards in their hand, which the dealer will then replace with fresh cards. The betting then proceeds with players taking turns to fold, call or raise the original stake, or ante. The game concludes with the famous "showdown" where players still in the game face off for the winnings. Normal poker rankings apply.

Variations of the game abound, but three major game types are played. These are Draw Poker, where all cards are hidden and replacements are possible; Stud Poker, which involves showing some of the dealt cards face up for all to see and no replacements are made; and finally, Community Poker, which proceeds with certain cards being shared by a number of the participating players.

Online poker has resulted in an explosion of interest in the gambling card game. Websites have sprung up across the internet offering players the opportunity to play against the online "house", or to enter video poker tournaments playing against other human players anywhere in the world.

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