The modern game of Poker is closely related to a wide variety of earlier vying games. The earliest references are found in the 16th century. Today, the game is played in hundreds of variations and has become a major spectator sport with huge audiences for live events.
In most games, each player must place an initial amount of money into the pot (called ante) before cards are dealt. These forced bets are called antes, blinds, or bring-ins and are used to create an incentive for players to play.
After the antes have been placed, each player is dealt two cards. These are the players’ “hole” cards. There are then five community cards, and each player aims to make the best five card hand using their hole cards and the community cards. After the flop, turn, and river have been dealt, the players reveal their hands and the highest hand wins the pot.
A basic knowledge of the rules is important, but more than anything else, you will need to be able to read and understand the game-play dynamics of Poker. A good way to do this is to watch some of the many online poker videos available. Pay attention to the by-play between the players, and especially note how they react to each other’s bets and bluffs. If you can decipher the subtle tells, your article will be much more compelling to readers. Also, try to keep a file of poker hands that are relevant to your subject matter.