During the game of poker, players receive five cards. Each player may choose to keep or discard three of those cards. The player with the best hand wins the pot. There are three main categories of poker hands, as shown below.

A straight is five cards in sequence, typically of the same suit. This type of hand can be high or low. The straight with the highest card in the top three will win if no other players have a higher card. A straight can also have an odd card. For example, a two-A-K-Q-J is not a valid straight. A straight is the best natural hand.

The straight flush is a five-card straight with the same suit. The ace can count either high or low. The highest flush will win in a tie if there are no other cards of the same suit. It is a little different than the standard straight.

The pair is two cards of the same rank. It is not a bad deal if one of the cards is a king. If both cards are kings, it is a mighty fine hand.

If you have two pairs, the highest pair wins. If you have two pairs that are equal, compare them with the second highest odd card. Then compare them again with the lowest odd card. If you are still in the game, you have the same opportunity to increase your bet.

A full house is made up of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. It is also known as sevens on tens. If you have two pairs that are equal, you can compare them with the other cards in your hand. For example, a nine-ten-jack beats a nine-seven-ten.

The straight flush is the best natural hand. The highest straight flush will win if no other players have ties. The straight flush with the highest card is the Royal Flush.

A full house is the best poker hand if you have two cards without a pair. It is also a good hand if you have two straights of the same value. If the two pairs are of differing ranks, the higher pair will be a better hand.

The three of a kind is a hand of three cards that are of the same rank. This is a better hand than the pair and the straight, but it is not the highest ranking hand. If you have a straight with a low card, you will be out-smarted by a high card.

The poker rules are simple. The best hand is the one with the most winnings. You can call, pass, or raise your bet. You can hide or show other cards to make your hand the best. You can also add or subtract cards to make your hand better. However, you cannot force other players to play more. You must believe that your hand is better than the others.

The basic poker rules are quite simple and do not require any complicated calculations. If you are new to the game, you should look up the poker rules before playing. If you have questions, there are a number of poker books and websites to help.