Poker is a card game that involves betting between players. The player with the highest ranked hand wins the “pot” or all of the money that has been bet during that hand. Players can also win by bluffing. The game starts with each player being dealt two cards, known as hole cards. Then a series of cards are dealt on the table in stages called the flop, the turn and the river. The final card, the river, is placed face up on the table. Each player can now make a winning hand using their own personal cards, the community cards and their bets.

A winning poker hand must contain a pair of cards in the same rank. A pair can be a single card or two adjacent cards. Three consecutive cards of the same rank in different suits is a high poker hand. If the ace is low, it ranks below a 3. A straight flush is four cards of the same suit in sequence from an ace to a 5.

The game involves quick instincts and bluffing. It’s a good idea to practice and watch other players play to develop your own skills. Focus most of your attention on the people playing, their reactions and by-play between them. You want to write an interesting story, not just a description of bets, raises and reveals.