Poker is hugely popular for a number of reasons: it’s fun, social, and there’s a depth of strategy that keeps you interested as your skill level improves. There are a few things to remember when starting out, however, and knowing them can help you avoid common mistakes that can be costly to even advanced players.

Chips: Poker chips come in a variety of colors and have different values assigned to them by the dealer before the game begins. Each player has to exchange cash for these chips before they can begin betting. When you want to raise the amount of money being bet you can simply say “raise” and every other player has to either call your new bet or fold.

Cards: There are 53 cards in the standard pack plus a joker which counts as wild. The cards are ranked from A to K. The highest hand is a straight which consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit. A flush consists of three matching cards of the same rank and two unmatched cards. A pair consists of two cards of the same rank and one other unmatched card.

Know When to Fold: It’s easy to get attached to a strong hand like pocket kings or queens but if the flop contains tons of suits that yours does not then it’s time to fold. This will force your opponent to put more money into the pot and give you a better chance of winning the next round.