Poker is a card game in which players place bets before each round of cards are dealt. Each player is dealt a complete hand of five cards. The highest hand wins. The cards are ranked in the usual way: Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10; and there are four suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs). Some games use Wild Cards which can take on any suit and rank.

The game spread around the world during the 19th century, and it became more common to play in bars and casinos like those in Las Vegas or Atlantic City in the USA. There are many variants of poker, each with its own rules and characteristics.

A good writer for poker articles should be familiar with the game and all its nuances, as well as understanding how to tell a story using a mixture of words, pictures and sound. They will need to know how to read the betting patterns of different players and pick up on any tells (unconscious habits that give away information about a person’s hand) – these can be anything from eye contact, facial expressions or body language.

Writing for the gambling industry also requires a great deal of research, keeping up with the latest trends and what’s going on in major casino venues across the globe. It is also important to be able to write about the game with enthusiasm and personality. This will not only engage readers but also show that you have a true passion for the subject.