Poker is a card game that may be played by any number of players. In most forms of the game, each player is required to place chips (representing money, for which poker is almost invariably played) into the pot prior to placing cards on the table. A player who does not do so is said to “drop” or “fold.”

There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when writing a scene with a poker game. For starters, it’s important to be familiar with the rules of the game and how different players react during a hand. The more you understand the game, the better you’ll be able to create scenes that will keep readers engaged and wanting more.

When writing a poker scene, focus most of your attention on the people in the scene and their reactions to the cards being played. This will give the reader a more realistic picture of the situation and make your scene more engaging.

For example, you can describe how a player flinched when someone raised their bet or how they smiled as they slid their cards into the center of the table. This will be more interesting than describing the details of each card draw, check and reveal.

Also, pay close attention to the chip stacks around the table. It’s easy to tell if your opponents are short-stacked and can help you plan for post-flop situations. Using this information can give you an edge over your opponents and help you build your chip stack.