Poker is a card game where players wager money in order to win a pot. The game is typically played against other people at a table, but it can also be played by two or more people online. The rules of poker vary from one game to another, but the basic principles are the same. To succeed at the game, you must be able to read your opponents and understand what cards are likely to beat them.
To play a hand, each player must have a minimum of two cards. A high-card combination or suited connectors is a strong starting hand. A premium hand, like pocket pairs or a full house, is even better. This kind of hand can be used to force weaker hands out of the pot, allowing you to collect more money from the remaining players.
After the first three community cards are dealt, the players can place a bet on each of them. The highest-ranking hands are then revealed and the winner is determined. The community cards can also be replaced at this stage depending on the rules of your particular poker variant.
As a poker writer, you must be able to describe how your readers should play the game and what kinds of hands are likely to win them money. This requires excellent observational skills, including body language and tells. It is easier to pick up on these details when you are not involved in a hand, so try to pay attention during down times when you are not playing.