Poker is a card game in which players wager chips (representing money) on the chance of making a winning hand. Players use their own two hidden cards, called hole cards, in conjunction with the five community cards to form a poker hand. Each player can raise, call or fold when it is his turn to act. Players can also “check” which means they don’t want to place any bets and will wait until it is their turn again. Players can also bluff by pretending to have a good or bad hand. The player with the highest poker hand when all hands are shown wins the pot – all the bets placed during that deal.

To win a hand you need to have the best cards or be able to keep betting that yours are the best until the other players drop out. This is a common element of both life and poker; it’s often not the best player who wins, but the one who has the most tenacity.

If you’re using poker as a plot device, it’s important to understand the rules of the game and how it works. However, be careful not to over-use poker in your story – this can easily detract from the conflict you wish to build. Also, don’t be tempted to cut off the game too early; poker is played over many hands and characters who constantly dip in and out will quickly become annoying.