Poker is a game where you place bets on cards in your hand and those of the other players. The highest-ranking hand wins the pot. The game can have anywhere from 2 to 14 players. Depending on the rules of your game, you may be able to draw replacement cards for those in your hand before or after the betting round.

You play poker with a standard deck of 52 cards, including the jokers. There are four suits, and each suit has a different rank. The higher the rank, the more valuable the card. You can win a hand by having the highest-ranking card or by making a bet that no one calls.

The best hands are the royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, and three of a kind. If there is a tie, the high card breaks it.

Depending on the rules of your game, a player can call the last bet or raise it when it’s their turn to act. You can also say “check” if you don’t want to bet or if you’ve already called the previous bet.

When writing scenes with Poker, focus on the characters’ reactions to the cards and the by-play between the players. This will help to build tension and drama. The other players’ reactions are often more interesting than the cards themselves. For example, if a player flinches or smiles when the flop is revealed, this can show that they’re holding a strong or weak hand.