Poker is a game of cards in which players make a hand of five cards and then bet on it. The player with the highest ranked hand wins.
After the dealer has dealt two cards to each player, betting begins. If the dealer has blackjack, they win the hand. If they don’t, then they check to see if any player has a high pair (two matching cards). If a player has two pairs they compare the rank of the high pair and then the rank of their unmatched card. If this still doesn’t decide the winner, the value of the kicker is compared.
The next stage of the hand is the flop. The dealer puts three more community cards on the board that anyone can use. This is the second opportunity to bet and raise your stakes. Then the final round of betting takes place. If you have a strong enough hand to beat the other players you can continue betting and they will have to fold.
Beginners often play their draws too passively. This gives their opponent a chance to call and win the hand or they will miss it by the river. If you want to become a better player you need to start playing your draws more aggressively, betting more and raising your opponents.
Getting familiar with these basic poker numbers will help you understand the odds of each type of hand and the potential value of your bets. Eventually these numbers will become second-nature and your understanding of the game will improve significantly.