Poker is a card game in which players place chips into the center “pot,” to be claimed by the winner of the hand. Initially, all players must ante some amount of money (amount varies by game). Once the dealer has shuffled and cut the cards, betting begins. During each round of betting, players may add additional chips to the pot if they wish. Players can also say “raise” to increase the size of the bet by a specified number. The players to the left then either call the new bet or fold their hands.

There is a lot of skill involved in poker, but most of the variance can be overcome with a little bit of luck and some basic understanding of probability and psychology. The divide between break-even beginner players and big-time winners is not as wide as some people think. A huge part of the difference comes from starting to view the game in a more cold, detached, mathematical and logical way than most amateurs do.

A good poker writer needs to know the game well, with all its variants, as well as understand how different players think and act during a hand, including famous tells. He or she must also be able to write well, with language that will keep readers interested and engaged. This includes being descriptive, with words that will paint pictures in the reader’s head. A good poker story should include plenty of anecdotes as well.