Poker is a card game played between two or more players and uses chips to represent money. It is generally played with a standard 52-card deck, although there are several variants that use alternative cards or different deck sizes. The goal of the game is to win wagers by making the best possible hand. The rules of poker vary between games, but the general rule is that the player with the highest-valued hand wins. In addition, some games require that the player place an initial amount of money into the pot before the deal. This is known as the ante, blinds, or bring-ins.

During the betting phase, each player has the option to make a call, raise, or fold. The player who makes the largest bet is the first to act, and each player must match this bet if they wish to stay in the hand. Depending on the game, one or more players may also draw replacement cards for their existing hands during or after the betting round.

The way to write about Poker well is to focus on the people involved in the game, their reactions to the cards that are dealt, and the by-play between them. Describing a series of card draws, checks, and reveals will be boring to read, no matter how interesting the game itself is. Instead, try to evoke a sense of drama and tension with your description of the scene by showing the reader who flinches or smiles and how this affects the outcome of the game.