Poker is played with a standard pack of 52 cards, plus some extras such as jokers. The cards are ranked as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The highest hand wins, with the exception of some games that use different ranks or add wild cards.

Once the cards have been dealt, a betting round commences. At this point you should be careful about the way in which you play your hand. Many players fall into the trap of limping, i.e. playing a hand without raising, however, this is not usually the correct strategy.

The best way to build a pot is to bet aggressively with a good hand. This will force weaker hands out of the game and raise the value of your hand.

For example, if you have a pair of kings off the deal and someone checks then you should call. This will put a small amount into the pot, but it will make them think twice about calling your bets in the future, and can even stop them from making a bad hand.

It is also important to know when it is worth trying to hit a draw. It is generally not, but this will vary from game to game, so it is important to balance up the odds against the potential returns. The best way to do this is to watch other players and consider how they would react to the situation, which will help you to develop quick instincts.