A game of cards where the players place bets on a poker hand that is made up of two personal cards and five community cards. Usually, there are several rounds of betting and the highest poker hand wins. There are many variations of this game.
One of the most interesting aspects of writing about poker is describing the different tells that players use to signal their intentions to other players. These are unconscious habits in the body language and facial expressions of a player that reveal information about their hand. They can include things like staring into the eyes of other players, blinking excessively, sighing or flaring nostrils, raising the eyebrows, covering the mouth with a hand, shaking hands and an increasing pulse in the neck or temple.
After each round of betting, the dealer reveals another card, known as the flop. This is another opportunity for players to improve their hand by calling or raising a bet. If no one raises, the dealer reveals the final fifth card, known as the river. A showdown then ensues with players showing their hole cards to determine the best poker hand.
Self-made billionaire Jenny Just says that learning to play poker taught her important lessons about risk management and confidence. She learned to read the odds and recognize that even a bad hand can win a tournament. This is a skill she has used as an options trader and investor in Chicago.