How to Use Poker As a Metaphor for Character Development in Your Story

Poker, a game of strategy and chance, can be used as a metaphor for character development in your story. Its unpredictability, and the way in which characters hide their true intentions, are a great way to add layers of intrigue to your narrative. It also allows you to play with the five elements of plot conflict, which are a staple of good writing: Exposition, Rising Action, Plot Point, Conflict and Resolution.

The basic rules of poker involve a standard deck of 52 cards that include the four suits- spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. Each card has a rank that determines its value in a poker hand. Ace can be high or low depending on the hand being formed, and winning hands are determined by highest to lowest- the best poker hand is five of a kind.

While a large percentage of the outcome of a poker hand involves luck, the long-run expectations of players are driven by decisions they make on the basis of probability, psychology and game theory. Players place bets on the basis of expected values, and they attempt to bluff other players for a variety of strategic reasons.

A key aspect of poker is learning to read other players and recognise their tells – this can be anything from fiddling with their chips to staring straight ahead. You can then use these tells to decide whether you should call or raise when holding a hand. The aim is to maximise the value of your winning hands and minimise losses from losing ones. This is known as the “MinMax” approach to poker.