Before you can start playing poker, you need to understand what hand beats what. It's actually quite simple and it is explained here.

How Cards Are Used in Poker Games

In poker, the lowest card is a two, and the higest is an ace. Card have two Important attribute:

Card Rank: The numercial value of the card is called rank and cards are ranked as follows, from lowest to highest:

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace

Card Suit: The other important attribute of a card is the card suit which is either diamond, club, heart or spade.

Poker hands are made up of a series of 5 cards. Some hands are based on card ranks only, some are based on suit only while others are based on a combination of rank and suit.

List of all poker hands

Beginners may want to print this poker hand reference card until they are comfortable with all poker hands.

	The Royal Flush: Five cards of the highest ranked from 10 to ace and of the same suit.
	The Straight Flush: Five cards forming ranked in sequence and of the same suit.
	Four of a kind: A hand with four cards of the same rank.
	Full House: A hand with three cards of one rank and two of another rank (essentially three of a kind + a pair).
	Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
	Straight: Five cards ranked in numercial sequence.
	Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank. This hand is also called "trips".
	Two Pairs: Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank.
	Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
	High Card: Also known as a "no pair" hand. This example is considered "Ace high" because of all the cards in this hand, the ace is worth the most.

Remember, the ace can be used as a high card when forming a straight or straight flush (10,J,Q,K,A) or it can be used as the low card (A,2,3,4,5).

Poker Hand Examples

Here are example hands that depict when rank, suit, or a combination of both is used:

Card rank only:

Here, you have a pair of sevens. The only thing that matters with this hand is the rank of the cards. The card suit of these cards do not form a valid pokerhand, and they are therefore irrelevant.

Card suit only:

Here, you have a Flush because all cards are of the same suit (spade in this case). The only thing that matters with this hand is the suit of the cards. The rank of these cards do not form a valid pokerhand, and is therefore irrelevant.

Rank and suit combination:

Here, you have a Straight Flush because all cards are of the same suit (hearts in this case) and all the cards form an unbroken numerical sequence (5 to 9 in this case). Both card attributes matter with this hand.

Ready to play poker? Check out our sponsored online poker rooms!