Poker is a card game that is played by two or more players. Players put money (or chips, which represent money) into a pot in the center of the table when it is their turn to act. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. A poker hand consists of five cards. Each card can have a rank or a suit. The rank of the card determines its probability of being dealt in a particular hand, for example a full house is 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another rank, a flush contains five consecutive cards of the same suit, and a straight is 5 cards of different ranks that skip around but are all from the same suit.
When writing a scene about poker, it is important to understand the basics of the game, including the rules and hand rankings. It is also helpful to familiarize yourself with the behavior of good players and the tells they give off while playing. Finally, it is useful to spend time observing the game and learning how people react to certain situations to help you develop your instincts when you play. Observing the way experienced players react is especially helpful as they often do things that beginner players don’t think of. This can make it difficult to replicate their actions when you are new to the game.