Poker is a card game with millions of fans. To write a poker article that appeals to them, focus on the story and include anecdotes. You can also include tips and strategies, such as learning to read your opponents by observing their body language and facial expressions. This is called reading tells and can help you win more hands.
There are many variants of poker, but the object is always to win a pot – the total of all bets made in one deal. The pot is won by a player holding the highest hand, or by making a bet that other players do not call. A player may also bluff by betting that he has a good hand when he does not, and this can sometimes work.
A poker hand consists of five cards. The higher the hand, the more valuable it is. A royal flush has all the highest cards: ace, king (K), queen (Q), jack (J) and ten (T). A straight is any 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. Three of a kind is 3 cards of the same rank, and a pair is two matching cards plus one unmatched card.
In most poker games, the dealer is designated by a button that moves clockwise after each hand. The player to the left of the button must pay a small blind and a big blind before being dealt cards. This obligation or privilege is called being in the pot.