Poker is a card game played between a number of players and involves betting. Its popularity is fueled by its combination of strategy, luck and social interaction. There are many variants of poker, but all share the same core rules. Some of the most popular are Texas Hold’em, Omaha and 7 Card Stud.

When you play poker, it’s important to understand the basic terms of the game and how betting works. This will help you make informed decisions that lead to better results over time. The most important concept to understand is the concept of ranges. Rather than thinking of your opponent’s hand individually, it is more effective to think of the entire range of hands they may hold. This will give you a much greater understanding of what your opponent is likely to do with their hand.

To begin a hand of poker, each player must put up the ante, which is typically a small amount of money. After that, betting begins in turn. If you want to raise the ante, say “I open.” If you do not wish to raise the ante, simply check your cards.

The highest-ranking hand in poker is a royal flush, which consists of the Ace, King, Queen and Jack of one suit. The next best is a straight, which consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit. Other common hands include a full house (three matching cards of the same rank) and a pair (2 identical cards). If you have a pocket pair, you can also declare “triples” to let other players know that you have a strong hand.