Poker is a card game involving betting between players. It uses a standard deck of 52 cards, with the highest hand winning. Some games add jokers to the deck to increase the number of possible combinations. The game is generally played for money, although it can also be played for fun without placing any stakes.

A player may raise, call, or fold his hand when it is his turn to act. If he calls, he puts his chips or cash in the pot to match the bet of the person before him. If he folds, he gives up his chance to win the pot and is not required to continue playing the hand.

The origins of poker are uncertain, but the game is thought to have evolved from a variety of earlier vying games. It likely had some roots in Asia, and may have ties to 10th-century Chinese domino games or the 16th-century Persian game As Nas. It arrived in the United States in the early 19th century, where it became a staple of Wild West saloons and gained popularity through Mississippi riverboats and French influence in New Orleans.

The key to writing interesting articles about Poker is to focus on the people involved and their reactions to the cards that are dealt. Personal anecdotes are always interesting, as are descriptions of the tells that all poker players have (unconscious habits that reveal information about their hands). Describe how the players react to the card they have, who bluffed, and who folded.