Royal Flush

Five cards in a row, 10   through ace, all in the same suit. A royal flush is actually the highest   possible straight flush. This is the best hand you can get in a game without   wild cards. Since suits have no bearing in poker, two players holding royal   flushes would tie. A royal flush ranks above any other straight flush. The   illustration shows a royal flush in hearts.

Straight Flush

Five cards of the same suit   in consecutive numerical order. (An ace high straight flush, as 10d Jd Qd Kd   AD, is given the special name royal flush.) A straight flush ranks above four of a kind. The illustration shows an eight-high straight flush.

Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank.   Four of a kind ranks above a full house and below a straight flush. The   illustration shows four queens with a ten kicker(fifth card).

Full House

Any three of one rank plus   two of another. Often identified by the three of a kind. Three kings and two   3s is a full house, often known as kings full, and sometimes more   specifically as kings full of 3s. Ties are broken first by the three of a   kind, then the pair. So, for example, 4-4-4-2-2 beats 3-3-3-A-A. In community-card games such as hold'em and Omaha, more than one player can have a full house   containing the same three cards of one rank. So, for example, A-A-A-K-K beats   A-A-A-Q-Q. A full house ranks above a flush and below four of a kind. The   illustration shows threes full of kings.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit,   not in sequence. A flush is often specified by its top one or two cards. For   example, Ah Kh 9h 4h 2h is called an ace-king flush. (Five cards of the same  suit in sequence constitutes a special hand known as a straight flush.) A flush ranks above a straight and below a full house. The illustration shows an ace-high heart flush.

Straight

Any five consecutive cards of mixed suits. The ace can be high or low.A-K-Q-J-T, an ace-high straight is the highest straight, and 5-4-3-2-A, a5-high straight, is the lowest   straight. (Five cards of the same suit in sequence constitutes a special hand   known as a straight flush.)  A straight ranks above three of a Kind and below a flush. The illustration shows a king-high straight.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank, plus two other unrelated cards. The hand is often called trips or, in community-card games, a set. Three of a kind ranks above two pair and below a straight. The illustration shows three eights.

Two Pair

Two of one rank, plus two of   another rank, plus an unrelated card. For example, A-A-K-K-Q is two pair, known variously as two pair, aces and kings; aces up; aces over; aces over kings; aces and kings; aces and. Ifboth hands have the same high pair, the   hand containing the higher second pair wins. For example, A-A-7-7-2 beats A-A-6-6-K. If both pairs tie, the high card wins. For example, A-A-7-7-J beats A-A-7-7-9. Two pair ranks between one pair and three of a kind. The illustration shows queens and sevens.

Pair

A hand containing two cards of the same rank, plus three other unmatched cards. When two players have the   same pair, the highest side card or cards wins.  For example, J-J-A-3-2 beats J-J-K-Q-9; 4-4-A-K-2 beats 4-4-A-Q-9; A-A-9-8-7 beats A-A-9-8-6. One pair is the second-lowest category of hand, coming between no pair and two pair. The illustration shows a pair of jacks.

No Pair

A hand lower than one pair, usually named by its high card, as for example, ace high. When two players both have the same high card, the highest side card or cards wins. For example, K-Q-4-3-2 beats K-T-9-8-7; A-K-Q-J-9 beats A-K-Q-J-8. No pair is the lowest category of hand. The illustration shows a seven-high hand.