Poker is a card game in which players place chips or cash in the center of the table to form a pot. Each player has a set of five cards. When a player believes that they have the best hand, they can raise their bet to encourage others to call and increase the size of the pot. Players also have the option to bluff, which involves betting without having a good hand in the hopes that other players will call their bets.
If no player folds on any round, the remaining players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the pot. Players may also make multiple bets in a row to improve their chances of winning. The rules of a particular game vary, but most have a fixed limit on how much one can raise in each betting round.
When writing about poker, it is important to be descriptive and use the five elements of plot conflict (exposition, rising action, climax, resolution and denouement). Describing a series of card draws, bets, checks and reveals can feel lame or gimmicky, so focus most of your description on the people involved in the scene and their reactions to the cards they are dealt. Pay attention to how they move their chips, what facial expressions they show and other subtle cues like a flinch or smile. If possible, include anecdotes as well to bring your scenes to life.