Poker is a card game with a lot of chance. It also involves a significant amount of psychology and skill. It’s a great way to build character, as characters’ reactions to the cards are very telling. You can use these emotions in your scenes to add tension and drama to the story.

When it comes to strategy, the most important rule is to play less hands. This will give you better odds against opponents and will prevent you from getting ripped off by big bets on weak hands. You must also remember that you can never win more than the amount you have staked, so it’s best to avoid playing too many hands and be disciplined about not raising too often.

After players have placed an ante or blind bet, the dealer shuffles and cuts the deck, then deals each player one card at a time. The cards may be face up or down, depending on the variant being played. A betting round then starts, with all bets going into the central pot. The dealers are responsible for collecting and distributing bets into the main pot and any side pots that have been created.

Position has a huge impact on starting hand range and strategy. Those in early positions risk more money by taking action first, and they are at a disadvantage because they have less information about their opponents’ actions. Players in later positions can take more risks because they have more information to work with, but the timing of bluffing is critical.