A game of poker involves betting on the outcome of cards. To win, a player must get the best hand. The game has several betting rounds. Each round begins with an ante, the amount of which varies by game. Bets are then placed in the middle of the table in the clockwise order. During the betting rounds, players have three options: place a bet, raise, or fold.

Most games of poker use a standard 52-card deck with four of each suit: hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds. In addition, most poker games are played using chips instead of cash. This makes it easier to count and stack the chips. Players also like to trade chips, with each chip representing a different dollar amount.

The highest natural hand in poker is a straight flush, which is five cards of the same suit. Aces can be either high or low. An ace high straight flush is called a Royal Flush. If no one else has a straight flush, the highest pair wins. The lowest pair is a pair of aces.

To improve your chances of winning a hand, make sure you’re in position. This means that you’re not playing from a disadvantage. You can raise more hands in late position and call less if you’re in a good position.