Poker is a card game that can be played with any number of players, though it’s most often played in tournaments. The object is to win the pot, which is the total of all bets made during a deal. You can win the pot either by having a high-ranking hand or by making a bet that no other player calls.

After all players have received their two cards, a round of betting starts. Each player has the option to call, raise or fold. Players may also draw replacement cards for the cards they already have in their hands. This is called a “reveal.”

A flop is dealt after the turn, which is another chance for players to make a good hand. Once the flop has been dealt, there is usually another round of betting. In some poker variants, each player must put in the amount of money (called chips) that equals or exceeds the bet made by the player to his left in that betting interval. A player who bets exactly the same amount as the previous bet is said to call, while a player who increases his bet is said to raise.

To make a poker story interesting, you must include the elements of plot conflict—events that threaten the outcome of the game and lead to a climactic ending. You can create tension in a poker game by writing about a particular player’s decision to bluff or reveal, or you can describe the players’ reactions to those decisions—who flinched, who smiled and who didn’t blink.