Poker is a card game involving betting and the raising of wagers (chips representing money) in a pot. A player may “call” a bet made by another player; must “raise” if they want to add more chips to the pot; or must “drop” (fold), in which case they will not place any chips into the pot and will not participate in the betting until the next deal.
Each player starts by placing an ante wager and then receives three cards face down. The best poker hand wins the pot. Depending on the poker variant being played, there may be one or more betting intervals. Each interval starts when a player makes a bet. The player to their left must either call the bet, raise it or drop.
Players can also bluff by betting with bad hands. This forces weaker hands to call, and raises the value of the pot. But it’s important to have good bluffing skills, as a strong bluff can be very profitable.
When it comes to writing a scene with Poker, focus on the by-play and emotions between players. Unless the poker is a significant part of the story, it will be boring to describe a series of card draws, bets and checks. Instead, use the poker as a vehicle for the conflict between the protagonists and antagonists in your story. This will make the scenes feel more realistic to your readers. If you don’t know how to play, watch experienced players and learn from their reactions.