Poker is a card game in which players make bets with chips that are gathered into a central pot. The cards are dealt from a deck and can be face up or down. A hand consists of five cards of consecutive rank and can contain wild cards. The highest possible hand is a Royal flush which is a pair of matching Aces, Kings or Queens followed by four of a kind and then a straight. The lowest possible hand is a pair. If more than one hand has a pair, the highest card breaks the tie.
To write an article about poker, you need to have a strong grasp of the rules and the betting system. This will allow you to convey the excitement and suspense of the game, while avoiding any mistakes that might distract the reader. You should also be familiar with the different poker variations. It is also important to understand how different players think and act during a game, including their tells.
When you are writing an article about poker, you should include personal anecdotes. These stories are more interesting than generalities and will help the reader to connect with your article. You should also be descriptive – try to paint pictures in the reader’s mind with your words. For example, when describing a hand, you should explain who flinched, who smiled, and who called for a showdown. You can also add details about the by-play between players, such as who blinked and who didn’t blink.