Poker is a game of cards in which players make bets and the player with the highest hand at the end wins. The game also involves bluffing, and good players can make their opponents believe they have a strong hand even when they don’t.

A hand is made up of a combination of cards with different ranks and suits. The stronger the hand, the higher it is ranked. The higher the rank, the more likely it is to win the pot at the end of the hand.

After each player receives their two hole cards, there is a round of betting. Each player can call any existing bets or raise them. They can also fold, which means sliding their cards away face-down and no longer taking part in the hand.

Top poker players have many skills, including patience, reading other players, and adapting strategies to changing situations. They know how to calculate pot odds and percentages, and they have the stamina to play long sessions.

A poker hand is ranked in order of strength from the highest to lowest. A pair is a combination of two distinct cards with the same rank, a straight is five consecutive cards of the same suit, and a flush is three or more cards of the same rank. The highest card breaks ties.