Poker is a card game in which players place bets, called chips or cash, into a pot. The player with the highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. The rank of a poker hand is determined by its odds (probability). Poker hands are made up of two personal cards in the player’s hand and five community cards on the table. Players may also place bets without holding a poker hand, known as bluffing.
The game is played by a group of players, with the number of players varying according to the variant of poker being played. The dealer shuffles the cards, the player to his or her right cuts, and then the dealer deals each player a number of cards. The cards are either face up or down, depending on the variant of poker being played.
Each player then acts in turn, placing his or her bets into the pot. A player may say “raise” to add more money to the bet, and other players must choose to call or fold. A player may also say “check” to remain with the bets placed in the pot during his or her turn.
Professional poker players are experts at interpreting cues, such as body language and eye contact, to gain an advantage over other players. They use this information, along with their own knowledge of the game, to exploit opponents and protect themselves against them. A writer can learn from these strategies in crafting compelling stories.