Poker is a card game that involves betting between players. It is believed to have evolved from a number of earlier vying games, including Primero (Spanish, 16th century), Flux and Post (French, 17th – 18th centuries) and Brag (18th – 19th centuries). The name “poker” probably derives from a French variant of the game’s Dutch name, Poque.

The game is played with a fixed number of cards that are dealt face down to each player. Each player places a bet into the pot prior to seeing their cards. Players may raise their bets in successive rounds. At the end of a round of betting, the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. Players with ties divide the pot equally.

A good poker writer is knowledgeable about the rules of poker and its many variations, and able to describe the game in a way that captures the audience’s attention. He or she also has an eye for tellings, which are body language and facial expressions that reveal bluffing and weakness.

It is important for writers to understand that poker is a game of growing odds and tension over hours and dozens of hands. This should be reflected in the narrative, with increased intensity and tension in later rounds of play. In addition, the story should be believable, with a realistic amount of risk and reward. While it is important to consider the possibility of a win, chasing safety will often result in missing great opportunities to earn large rewards from moderate risks.