Poker is a card game played between two or more players and involves betting on the strength of a hand. A hand is comprised of five cards. Each player must contribute a sum of money (called chips) into the pot when it is their turn to act. A player can also add more money to the pot if they wish, a practice known as raising. Players can also pass on their turn if they do not wish to bet, a practice called checking.

The game has a large following and millions of fans. Writing about poker that will appeal to them requires that the author be able to make the game interesting and include anecdotes. A good way to do this is to focus on the tells that each player has, or the unconscious habits of the players that reveal information about their hands. These can be as simple as a change in posture or facial expression.

A good rule of thumb when deciding whether or not to bet a bad hand is that you should only raise if it has a chance of improving. This is why it is important to study replays of hands that went well or badly and figure out how your opponents played them. A recent study involving brain mapping found that amateur poker players were more prone to let negative emotions, like frustration, distract them while professional players were better able to control their emotions and concentrate on the game.