Poker is a card game where players place bets on their hand (called a pot) and the highest hand wins. A player may raise or call any bets that come before him, and he may also fold his cards.
To be a good poker writer, you need to have a strong understanding of the rules of the game as well as the strategies and tactics. You should be able to describe the game in a way that makes it interesting for your readers. This can be done by incorporating personal anecdotes and describing different methods that players use during the game, including tells.
You should know how to read your opponents and determine their betting patterns. Successful poker players are able to stay calm and take a middle ground, even when everything goes wrong. This allows them to focus on the emotional state of their opponents, and therefore strategize accordingly. You should also be able to identify conservative players from aggressive players by noticing how quickly they fold their cards, or by seeing how often they raise the stakes.
Poker first appeared in English society in the early 19th century. Its introduction is credited to General Schenck, the American ambassador to Britain, who was prevailed upon to teach it to his friends during weekend retreats to his Somerset country home. Schenck was reported to have drafted a set of definitive rules for the game, which were published in 1904. These rules are still considered the standard by many players today.