How to Write About Poker

Poker is a card game in which each player has their own stack of chips that they bet with. Each player is dealt 2 cards that are hidden from the other players (these are called their hole or pocket). There are then 5 community cards dealt that can be used to make a winning 5-card hand. The best hand wins the pot, which is all of the bets placed during a round.

A good poker writer should know the rules of Poker well, including betting concepts. They should also understand how to read an opponent’s tells and body language, as these can indicate whether they are holding a strong hand or bluffing. This skill can be especially important in online poker games, where there are many more bluffs than in real-life game play.

A good poker writer should also be able to tell a compelling story by writing about Poker, with characters and their reactions to the game. This can be done by focusing on the key hands that are played, the tension that builds between players and by using plot elements like character development and growing odds. Describing a series of cards, bets, checks and reveals will feel boring and gimmicky unless the player is able to convey the rising tension through their description of their own reactions to the cards.