Poker is a game of strategy, chance and deception. It requires a deep understanding of mathematics, economics, psychology, and the science of deception to play well. Professional players hone their skills with endless computer simulations that organize intuition into rigid, quantitative movements. Poker has evolved from a game of “feel” into one that relies heavily on detached, quantitative analysis.
To play poker, each player must ante up a small amount of chips. They are then dealt two cards face down. After betting on their hands, a fifth card is revealed and the player with the best five card hand wins the pot. Players can raise, call or fold on their turn.
The most common variation of the game is Texas Hold’em. It starts with each player receiving two cards, called hole cards, and a series of community cards are dealt in stages: three cards known as the flop, an additional single card known as the turn, and then a final card known as the river. Each round of betting is followed by a showdown where all of the remaining players reveal their cards. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot, including all bets made during previous rounds of betting.
To make a story about poker interesting, focus on the reactions of the players. It is these reactions, often subtle, that give a poker story its dramatic punch. These tells can include body language, facial expressions and even posture.