Poker is a card game with a large element of chance and skill. A lot of people think it is mostly a game of luck but the truth is that, like all other games of competitive skill, in the long run the best players will win. The key to becoming a good poker player is understanding how to minimize losses with weak hands and maximize winnings with strong ones. This is a process that involves learning the rules of poker, psychology, and probability theory.

Before the cards are dealt, one or more players make forced bets, usually an ante or blind bet. Then the dealer shuffles and deals them face up or down depending on the variant being played. Each player may then either open or check their bets, meaning they raise or fold, respectively. When a betting interval ends, all remaining players show their hands to the other players and the highest hand wins.

What makes poker interesting to millions of readers is the by-play between the players and their reactions to the cards being dealt. Unless you have plenty of anecdotes to include, a poker article with just the facts will feel flat and gimmicky. To make it interesting you need to describe the other players, their attitudes, and their reactions to each card draw, bet and check. The most popular physical tells are eye contact, facial expressions and body language. These can be as subtle as a change in posture or as obvious as a gesture.