The first step in a hand of poker is deciding how much you’re willing to put into the pot. This decision is called the Ante, and involves placing one nickel into the pot before any other players begin betting. After the ante has been placed, players are dealt five cards. A decent hand is a Ks-Jd-5c-3d, though you’d do well to avoid the pair of kings. After the ante is placed, betting begins.

In any poker game, the number of players is generally between seven to eight. Each player puts in a certain amount of chips into a pot, called the “pot”. The highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. Players also have the option to put their ante into the pot. A bluff can cost you the game. If you can raise the minimum number of times and make a big enough bet, you’ll have a better chance of winning.

Before any cards are dealt, each player must place an ante, which is equal to his or her original bet. The ante is given to the pot before the player’s turn and river cards are dealt. The player with the best hand is known as the “nuts.”