The game of poker requires several skills to be successful. A good strategy must be balanced with well-timed tactics, and players must understand the importance of reading their opponents. They must also develop a solid understanding of their own play style, taking notes and reviewing past hands for areas for improvement.

At the start of the game, each player buys in for a minimum number of chips. Generally, each white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth 10 whites. Players must then shuffle the cards and deal themselves two personal cards face-down and five community cards on the table. Then there’s a round of betting before the players reveal their hands and showdown.

A winning hand must consist of three or more matching cards in rank or sequence and two unmatched cards. Straights consist of five consecutive cards in a suit and are considered the strongest. Flush contains five cards of the same suit but can skip around in rank and include a pair. A full house consists of three cards of one rank and two matching cards of another, while a two-pair consists of two cards of the same rank plus two other unmatched cards.

In post-flop situations, it is usually a good idea to fold if you’re not sure your hand is strong enough for a raise. A raise will price out all the worse hands and make it harder for other players to steal your pot. However, you should also consider raising if you think your hand is strong enough and your opponent has a weaker one.