Despite being commonly referred to as a game of chance, poker involves a great deal of skill and psychology. It can even become a profitable pastime if you understand how to play the game properly and have enough stamina for long sessions of play. The best way to learn the game is by reading books on the subject or playing with a group of players who are familiar with the rules of the game.

The first step in becoming a better player is to understand the odds of your hand. This is important because it allows you to make accurate estimations of your opponents’ cards. It is also crucial in determining whether to call, raise or fold your hand during the betting phase.

A hand is ranked according to its probability of winning. This means that a pair of kings, for example, has high odds of winning against a hand consisting of two unconnected low cards. A straight is a hand that contains five consecutive cards of the same rank. This hand has a higher value than a flush, but lower than a full house.

A high card is any card that does not belong to either of the previous hands, and it breaks ties when more than one hand has the same type of pair. In addition to analyzing the probabilities of each hand, you can improve your game by learning how to use position. Acting last gives you more information about your opponents’ cards, and it enables you to make more accurate bets.