PokerIt's time to brush up on those all important hand rankings. Here's a list of the possible hands and how they rank, together with a short definition and, in the hope that a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, an example image.
High Card
The highest ranked card is an Ace, and the ranking runs from the Ace down through the picture cards all the way to 2.
Pair
Any two cards of the same rank, for example two 5's. 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 2's.
Two Pair
Two sets of cards of the same rank, for example two 5's and two Jacks.
Three of a Kind
Also called trips, this is where you have three cards of the same rank, for example three 5's.
Straight
Five cards in sequential rank order, for example 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. An ace may be used as both a high and a low card.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, for example five diamonds.
Full House
A combination of a pair and three of a kind.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank, for example four 2's.
Straight Flush
A straight (see above) but with all the cards in the same suit.
Royal Flush
The daddy of all poker hands, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.