Poker is a card game in which players independently try to put together a hand of cards. Traditionally, this is done in order to win a pot of cash or poker chips. There are many different forms of poker, and the rules vary by variant, but most of them are played with six or more people around a table.
Each player puts an ante in the pot before being dealt two cards. Each player then attempts to make the best possible 5-card poker hand from their own two cards and the five community cards. In some variations, the player who shows the best poker hand wins the pot.
Once all players have received their two cards, there is a round of betting, started by the player to the left of the dealer. Each player then has the option to discard one of their cards and “hold” the remainder if they wish. This card is often referred to as the “case ace.”
The rest of the game is driven by the players’ reactions to the cards they receive and the by-play between them. It’s a great way to add conflict and tension to your scenes.
If you want to bet the same amount as the person to your right, you say “call.” This means that you’ll bet in an amount equal to what the person before you did (as long as they didn’t raise). If you don’t want to call, you can simply pass on your turn and wait until it comes back to you.