The Basics of Poker
Poker is a card game with millions of fans. To make an article that appeals to them, focus most of your attention on the people who are playing, their reactions and the by-play between them. Also, describe how a series of card draws, bets and checks add up to create tension in the game.
Each player starts the hand by anteing an amount (varies by game). Players then bet into the middle, called the pot, in order to win the pot. Betting continues around the table until one player has all the chips, or everyone folds. Often times, the highest hand wins the pot.
While luck is important, poker involves quite a bit of skill and psychology. Players learn to read their opponents by observing body language, facial expressions and gestures. This is known as reading tells and can be an invaluable weapon in the game.
There are many different variations of poker, some more complex than others. However, all of them involve betting and forming a high value hand from the cards in your hand. Some examples of the hands are:
The most common hand in poker is a pair, consisting of two matching cards. Other common hands include three of a kind, four of a kind, straight, flush and full house.