There are several different hands you can make in poker. The highest hand is the royal flush, which consists of three pairs of the same rank and the ace of the same suit. Royal flushes can only be tied by a royal flush of a different suit. Other hands you can make include straights and three of a kind. Straights and three of a kind are both combinations of two cards of the same rank. Two pair means two cards of the same rank plus three unmatched cards.

In poker, “call” means to place a bet equal to the last bet or raise. For example, if someone in front of you bets $10, and you raise, you would call and put the same amount of cash or chips into the pot. If you’ve been raising and need to fold, you could also call and see if a better hand is formed. Once you’ve made a decision, you can watch the rest of the game or cash out.

Identifying conservative players can help you read other players’ betting patterns. If a player has a good hand and a strong bluff, they’ll fold. Very conservative players usually fold early, so if you’re playing against them, it’s wise to check and fold. But don’t stay at the table betting for your bad hands. If your hand is strong, you’ll want to bet on the flop, forcing the weaker players to fold, which increases the pot value.