In poker, you compete against other players for the chance to win a pot consisting of all bets placed during each hand. The main objective is to form the best possible hand based on card rankings, and the highest-ranking hands win the pot. Unlike some casino games, where luck plays a significant role, poker is a game that requires skill and strategy to play well.

Depending on the rules of your particular poker game, you will be required to place mandatory bets before each hand. These bets are called blinds and are placed into the betting pot by the two players to the left of the dealer.

Once you have your own bets down, it is time to focus on reading the other players. A good player is able to conceal his or her strength and keep opponents guessing. This is accomplished through a variety of tactics, including bluffing, which is considered an advanced poker technique.

A poker hand is made up of 5 cards of consecutive rank in one suit. A straight is a string of five cards that skip around in rank but are all from the same suit, for example ace, two, three, four, and five. A pair is a set of matching cards, such as two kings or two sixes. A high card breaks ties when no other hand is ranked higher than the pair.