When you play poker, you can make a wide variety of decisions based on your hand ranking and the betting rounds. The betting rounds vary depending on the variant. For example, in seven-card stud, the best hand is a five-card straight. Unlike many other poker variations, you can make multiple cuts of the deck to determine your hand ranking. You will then need to analyze your table and the other players’ cards after the “flop,” which is the reveal of the dealer’s five cards.

In most versions of poker, each player must place a bet depending on the rank of his hand. If a player does not have a high-ranking hand, he may raise the bet or fold. The game ends when all players have folded. Then, the dealer will deal out cards to the other players. Typically, players will raise or call each other’s bets. If the dealer calls, you should raise.

The optimal play depends on two factors: your opponent’s cards and how he/she reacts. If you have incomplete information or incorrect information about your opponent’s cards, you might end up with the wrong decision. You can use math to determine the optimal play. If you don’t know the odds of winning, you should check and fold. Likewise, if you have a strong hand, you should bet to force out weaker hands and increase the pot value.