What is a straight in poker and how does it affect the gameplay?

In Poker, a straight is a hand that consists of five consecutive cards of any suit. For example, a straight could be 5-6-7-8-9. Having a straight can greatly impact gameplay as it is a strong hand that can win against lower-ranking hands like pairs or three of a kind. Players with a straight may choose to bet aggressively to try and maximize their winnings, while others may try to bluff their opponents into folding. Overall, having a straight can significantly influence the outcome of a poker game.