Writing About Poker

Poker is a card game played between two or more players. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the sum total of bets made in a single deal. A player may win the pot by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other players call. Bluffing is a primary feature of the game and is what separates it from other games that use poker hand rankings, such as the Italian primiera (16th century), Mus (under various spellings, Spanish, 16th – 17th centuries), and Ambigu (French, 18th century).

There are many different variations of poker. Some require all players to place a mandatory bet, called a blind bet, before being dealt cards. Other variants have a betting interval where one player has the privilege or obligation to make the first bet, and other players must either call or raise the bet. Players are also permitted to check, which means that they stay in the hand without betting.

Writing about poker requires a high level of skill as it is often based on bluffing and reading other players. The best articles include personal anecdotes and describe different methods that poker players use during the game, including tells. These can be as subtle as a change in posture or as obvious as a gesture. Good poker writing will also be descriptive, describing the reactions of other players as they reveal their cards.