Poker is a game of smarts and mental toughness, but it’s also a numbers game. Having the highest-ranking hand usually wins the pot, and knowing how to rank a hand is essential. The best hand in poker is a Royal Flush (Jack-Queen-King-Ace of the same suit). Other winning hands include Four of a Kind, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair and High Card.

During a poker hand, players have the option to stay in, hit, or fold their cards. If you stay in, you must put money into the pot before being dealt a new set of cards. This amount is known as the ante. If you want to add more money to the betting pool, you must say “raise.” This signals that you’re raising the amount that you’re betting. The other players can choose to call your raise or fold their cards.

After the first round of betting is complete the dealer will put down three community cards face up on the table – these are called the flop. Using these and your own two personal cards, you can try to make the strongest possible five-card hand.

If you want to improve your chances of winning, be sure to play from late position. This gives you more information about your opponents’ actions and allows you to bluff effectively. The dealer will then place a fifth community card on the table, called the river. This card is used to create the final, showdown poker hand.