Poker is a game that involves an element of luck, but it also has many strategic aspects to it. Strong players know when to bluff, fold, and understand their opponent’s gameplay to win the game. It can be fun, exciting, and deeply satisfying to play poker.

To begin playing a hand, each player must “ante” up some money (the amount varies, in our games it is typically a nickel). Then the cards are dealt. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. To place a bet, you must say either “call” or “raise.” Calling means to place the same amount of money into the pot as the last player. Raising means to increase the amount that you bet.

The first betting round, called the flop, shows 3 community cards face up. This is the time to determine what type of hand you have and how strong it is. A flush is a hand with 5 cards of the same suit. A straight is a 5-card hand that starts with the highest card and goes down to the lowest.

A pair is a high-ranking hand, so it’s usually not a bad idea to raise with it. However, it can be difficult to get other players to call your bluffs. In the long run, you’ll save a lot of money by making smart decisions rather than throwing good cards away. For example, if you have a good hand and the flop comes up A-8-5, don’t keep calling because you’re hoping that you might hit the 10 to make your straight.