Poker is a card game in which players bet into the pot in the middle of the table. The highest hand wins the pot. It requires a certain amount of luck and skill, especially in betting situations. To be successful at poker you need to know when to play and when to fold. It is also important to be able to read your opponents. This can help you avoid calling re-raises with weak hands.

To start a hand, each player must ante something (typically a nickel). Then the dealer deals everyone five cards face up. Then each player can bet based on their individual situation. For example, if the person to your left raises their bet you can say “call” which means you are putting in the same amount as them. If they continue to raise their bet you can fold your hand.

Once the betting round is complete the dealer puts three more cards on the board that anyone can use. This is called the flop. Then there is another betting round and again you can choose to call, raise or fold.

A straight is 5 cards in consecutive rank of the same suit. A full house is 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another rank. And a pair is two matching cards of one rank and three unmatched cards. All of these hands must contain five cards in order to win a pot.