Players begin the game with a hand of five cards. The player who has the best hand wins. The other players may bet or fold. The final phase of the game consists of the players revealing their cards clockwise around the table. Depending on the game, the player who reveals the cards first is the dealer.

When a player raises, they add money to the pot. If the other players are still betting, they may call the new bet or fold the hand. The first person to raise must have a minimum hand of jacks. Otherwise, they must match or raise the bet. Eventually, the hand ends when one player is left.

It is important to learn how to read other players’ reactions. The classic tells include puffing up the nostrils and eyes, excessive blinking, and a rapid pulse in the neck and temple. Observing a player’s behavior can help you learn what the best strategy is for the situation. For example, when the player has a weak hand, they may be bluffing.

In poker, the best hands are called “hands”. The highest-ranking hand is called a royal flush, which contains three of one rank and two of another. A royal flush is not beatable by a royal flush of another suit. Another hand is a straight flush, which consists of five cards of one suit. In addition, 3 of a kind is a set of four cards of any rank.