Poker is a card game played by two or more players and governed by a set of rules. The game is widely popular in the United States and around the world, in casinos and private homes, among others. It is a game with many variants. It is sometimes called the national card game of the United States and its play and jargon permeate American culture.
To play poker, each player must “buy in” by purchasing chips for the amount of his ante or bet (called his stake). Each chip represents one unit of the minimum ante or bet. A white chip is worth the smallest amount, a red chip is worth five whites, and so on. In addition, each player may purchase additional chips of higher denominations if desired.
After a player has made his bet, other players may either call (match) or raise it. A player may also choose to fold his hand.
If a player does not want to call or raise, he must make his bet equal to the total amount raised by all other players. This is known as “equalizing” the pot.
The drama of a poker game is created by the actions and reactions of the players. The more detailed your description of each action, the more tension you can create. For example, you can describe how a player flinched or smiled when his cards were revealed. You can also use pacing to increase the tension.