Poker is a game of chance, but it also has quite a bit of skill and psychology. A good poker player knows how to read other players and use that information to improve their odds of winning the hand.
A royal flush is the highest possible poker hand, consisting of a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of one suit. This can tie with a straight, but it cannot be beat by another royal flush. A straight is 5 cards that are consecutive in rank but from different suits. A three of a kind is 3 matching cards of one rank, and 2 unmatched cards. A pair is two matching cards of any rank, and one unmatched card.
When playing poker, it is important to take your time and think about each decision before making it. You should avoid making automatic decisions, as these are often wrong and can cost you money. Take your time and consider your position, your own poker hand ranking and the actions of your opponents before making a decision.
When you have a strong poker hand, you should bet at it to make the other players afraid to call your bets and raise your chances of winning the hand. This will make your bluffing more effective and help you win larger pots. You should also learn to read the other players at your table, and watch them play to understand how they make their decisions.