Whether you are a beginner or an expert poker player, you need to know how to play poker in order to get the most out of your game. The most basic way to play poker is to know what you have in your hand. You should only make a bet if you have the best hand possible at the moment.

If you don’t, you can choose to check. You can also choose to match a bet. If someone bets and you match, you will win the pot. You can also choose to fold. If you don’t know whether you have the best hand or not, you can choose to check and let the others decide.

If you do have the best hand, you can choose to call. You will get the pot if you are the best. You can also choose to raise. You may be able to raise by 14 chips. You can also raise the bet made by another player. This is called sandbagging.

Poker players can also create a special fund called the kitty. They use this kitty to pay for the new decks of cards. If you leave the game before the kitty is paid off, you will not get your share of the kitty chips.

If you have two distinct pairs, plus a fifth card, you have a flush. You can have a straight flush, which is five cards in the same suit, or a royal flush, which is five cards of the same suit.