Poker is a game where players bet money with cards that are dealt to them and five community cards. Players aim to make the best five card hand using their own two cards and the community cards (also called a flop). If a player makes a good hand and all opponents fold, they win the pot.

There are many different types of poker games, but the basic rules of the game are very similar across most variations. The players must ante something (the amount varies by the game) to be dealt cards and then place their bets in a middle area of the table called the pot. Each bet can be raised or folded.

A player who wants to stay in the pot can call any raise and can even raise the last raise, provided that he or she is willing to make up the difference between his or her own stake and the amount of the last raise. This is known as sandbagging and is allowed in most games.

The most interesting part of the game is how the players react to their cards and to each other. This is where most of the plot conflict and the dramatic tension occurs. It is very important to describe these reactions – who flinched, who smiled, etc. The more detailed your descriptions, the better the reader will understand the action and tension. You can also include anecdotes about the game or the players to add interest to the story.