Many players use books to learn the game, but the best way to really improve is to practice and play regularly. Observe the action at the table and study how the best players react to different situations. By doing this, you will develop quick instincts that allow you to make decisions quickly. Having a strategy is crucial to success in poker, but it’s also important to know when to change your tactics.

After the betting rounds on the flop and turn are complete, the dealer puts three cards face up on the board that everyone can use. This is called the flop. It is now time for the showdown. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. If there is a tie, the highest card breaks it.

The most common hands are a straight, a flush, and a full house. A straight consists of 5 consecutive cards of the same rank, while a flush consists of 3 matching cards of one rank and 2 matching cards of another. A full house is made up of two distinct pairs and a fifth card. The high card breaks ties in case of identical pairs.

The best way to win is to keep your opponent guessing about what you have. If they always know what you’re holding, it’s impossible to get paid off on your big hands and your bluffs will never succeed. Mix up your range and try to make opponents think you have a stronger hand than you actually do.