Poker is a card game that requires an initial amount of money (representing chips) to be placed in the pot before cards are dealt. This money can be a combination of antes, blinds and bring-ins. Each player then places his chips into the pot in turn, betting according to the rules of the particular poker variant being played.

The best way to tell a story about poker is by including the by-play of the players, their reactions and how they interact with each other. It’s also important to be descriptive – use words to paint pictures in the reader’s mind. The scene could be the opening hands, where the players are feeling each other out, or it might be a later hand with a big reveal – bets rising, key players being revealed etc.

You can add tension to your scenes by bluffing. However, it’s best to bluff only when you think you have a good-to-great chance of winning. Otherwise, you will just make your opponents confused and might hurt your chances of winning a hand.

Another great strategy is to be the last player to act. This gives you the advantage of being able to control the price of the pot, so that you can increase the value of your strong hands. It also gives you a better idea of what your opponents are holding, so that you can adjust your tactics accordingly.