Poker is a card game in which players place chips into a pot based on their perceived odds of winning. Unlike other games that involve chance, poker involves decisions based on probability, psychology, and game theory. In addition, players can bet and bluff to influence other players’ behavior.

When writing a scene featuring poker, you’ll need to understand the rules of the game well. This includes the ante, blind, and bet phases, as well as how each player can call or raise. It also helps to know the basics of game theory and how to read tells.

The first phase of betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. Each player is then dealt two cards, which are kept hidden from other players (these cards are called the hole or pocket cards). A third card is then revealed at the center of the table, and another betting phase begins. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot.

Ties are broken by the highest unmatched cards or secondary pairs in a full house (three of a kind and a pair). Note that while poker is primarily a game of chance, many bets are made by players with positive expected value or for strategic reasons, such as bluffing. These bets add to the value of the pot and can sometimes force weaker hands to fold. This increases the likelihood of a strong poker hand, which can then win the pot.