Every poker player must have a knowledge of poker hand rankings.

Following is the hierarchy of possible poker hands arranged from lowest to highest together with a short definition.

High card

The highest ranked card is an Ace, and the hand ranking runs from this Ace down through the picture cards all the way to 2.

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Single Pair

Any two cards of the same rank, for example 2 Queens. The ranking of pairs mirrors that of the cards in general, so the strongest pair is a pair of Aces and the weakest a pair of 2s.

Two Pairs

Two sets of cards of the same rank, for example two queens and two sevens.

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Three of a kind

Also called trips, this is where you have three cards of the same rank, for example three sevens.

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Straight

Five cards in sequential rank order, for example 8, 9, 10, Jack and a Queen. An ace may be used as both a high and a low card.

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Flush

Five cards of the same suit, for example five hearts.

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Full house

A combination of a pair and three of a kind.

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Four of a kind

Four cards of the same rank, for example four Sevens.

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Straight Flush

Same as a straight (see above) but just with all the cards in the same suit.

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Royal Flush

The daddy of all poker hands, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace