Poker is a card game played by two or more players. It has hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of variations. But it all has the same objective: to make the best five card hand. The game is a twin element of luck and skill, and over time the application of skill will virtually eliminate the variance of chance.

The game begins with each player receiving two cards face down. A round of betting follows, initiated by the players placing mandatory bets (called blinds) into the pot. A player may call a bet, raising or folding. They may also check, which means they will not place any bets into the pot for that betting round.

After the betting rounds, a fifth and final card is dealt face up – this is called the river. The players who have the best 5 card hand win the pot, which includes all bets made at each of the previous betting rounds.

The game offers many mechanisms for players to strategically misinform each other about the strength of their hands. Players can provide subconscious visual tells like glancing at their chips to signal that they have a strong hand, and they can control how much information their opponents see by keeping their cards face down or close to their chest, a practice known as “playing it close to the vest.” These strategies can be valuable tools for writers as well, helping them build tension in their narratives by concealing important information from their readers.