Poker is a game of strategy, chance, and bluffing. Players compete against one another by assembling a five-card hand of the best value, traditionally to win cash or poker chips. Often, a single player collects the entire pot when all the remaining players have folded after the final betting round. Poker’s rich mosaic of strategies and psychological nuances provides an array of intriguing metaphors for creative writing, and its inherent unpredictability mirrors the twists and turns of a compelling narrative. The concept of a “poker face” can serve as a powerful metaphor for characters who conceal their true intentions, and the game’s many mechanisms by which players misinform each other about the strength of their hands provide numerous opportunities to craft deceitful scenes.

After all the players have received their two hole cards, there is a round of betting based on the specific poker variant being played. A player may choose to call the bet made by the player before them, or raise it. If they raise the bet, they must match the amount of money that was placed into the pot by the last active player in order to stay in the pot.

In addition to betting, poker players are constantly assessing the information available to them in order to exploit and protect themselves. This information can come from a variety of sources, including in-person cues such as eye contact and body language, as well as from behavioral dossiers created by software or even purchased records of other players’ play.