How to Write a Poker Narrative

Poker is a card game where players place bets and reveal their cards in rounds of betting. The game originated in the United States and spread throughout Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world after the Civil War. There are many different types of poker games, but the basic rules remain the same. The game begins with each player being dealt two private hole cards. They may choose to discard and draw new cards to replace them or simply keep the ones they have. There are then several betting rounds that take place and each round adds another card to the community stack.

During the first round of betting each player must decide whether to call or raise the highest bets made so far. They must also consider the value of their own hand and how it might change after the flop is revealed. For example, if they hold a strong hand after the flop it is often profitable to continue bluffing and raising.

The narrator should describe the action of each hand as it happens, but focus most on the characters’ reactions. The more detailed the description, the better. Using emotional language can really help to build tension and add emotion to the scene. For example, the narrator can describe who flinched or smiled and how that affected their decisions. This is a great way to make a game of poker feel realistic and believable.