Poker is an intriguing game that involves complex mathematical odds, psychology, and skill. It’s an easy game to play, but it takes time and practice to master. If you’re writing a story with poker, it’s important to understand the game and how different players think during a hand. One way to do this is to study the tells of experienced players, which are unconscious habits that reveal information about the player’s hand.
Before dealing the cards, each player makes forced bets, called antes or blind bets. The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals them to each player, one at a time, beginning with the player on their left. Depending on the game variant, cards may be dealt face up or down. The players then make their bets into a central pot.
The best hands to play in poker are suited connectors and high pairs. These are strong hands that should be raised pre-flop, re-raised on the flop and checked on the turn unless an overcard hits. You should also try to play a range of hands in position as much as possible, especially against aggressive opponents. This will allow you to control the size of the pot.