Poker is a card game played between two or more players. The goal is to win the pot – all the money that has been bet during a hand. The highest ranked hand when the cards are shown wins the pot. There are several different hands, but the most common is a pair. Two distinct cards of the same rank – for example, two sixes – are considered a pair.

A pair is better than one card, but not as good as a full house. The best hand is five of a kind (aces, kings, queens, jacks, and so on). Some games have wild cards that can take the place of any card to make a stronger hand.

The most important thing in poker is minimizing risk. You can do this by betting early and often, even when you don’t have a strong hand. This will force other players out of the hand and help you collect more chips in the pot.

It’s also important to be aware of your opponents’ tells. These are unconscious habits that reveal information about your hand. They can be as simple as eye contact or a gesture. Every player has a tell and it’s vital to identify them so you can avoid making costly mistakes.

The more you understand the rules of poker, the better you’ll be at playing it. There are many online resources that will help you learn the game and improve your skills.