Whether you’re playing poker in a casino, on the internet or at a poker club, you’re tasked with constructing the best possible hand. This requires some skill, but it also requires some risk. Having the right cards can win you the pot. But not everyone knows how to play the game. Here’s a quick primer on poker rules.

The first step to playing poker is to place an ante in the pot. This is a small bet that will usually be one dollar or five dollars. It’s an enticement to the other players to call your bet. If they don’t, you may be left with nothing.

The next step is to use two of your hole cards to create a hand. This could be a flush, straight or three-of-a-kind. If you can’t make a flush, then you’re sandbagging. If you can make a straight, you’re building the pot.

You’ll need to bet more if you want to win. You can do this by betting on the turn, the river or on a specific hand. The minimum hand to make the first bet is usually a pair of jacks. If you have a pair of kings, that’s not as good as the three-card flush.

The most common poker variation is called Texas Hold’Em. It uses a standard 52-card deck. The cards are ranked from Ace to Jack. Each hand is made up of five cards. The highest hand is usually the best.