The knowledge of the hand rankings is the most essential thing for any poker player. Hand rankings are certain combinations of cards. The harder it is to get a combination of cards in your hand, the more superior said combination is, and thus is more likely to grant you victory.
Poker hand rankings from strongest to weakest.
Royal flush:
Five consecutive cards of the same suit from 10 to Ace.
Straight flush:
Five consecutive cards of the same suit of any value. If multiple players have this hand ranking, the one with more valuable cards is considered superior.
Four of a kind:
The same card in all four suits. The five-card hand is completed by the highest card among the others on the table or in your hand.
Full House:
The same card in three suits combined with a pair of two equal-valued cards of different suits.
Flush:
Five cards of the same suit in any order. The flush with the highest-valued card determines the winner in case more than one player has this hand ranking.
Straight:
Five consecutive cards of any suit. The highest-ranking card in hand determines the winner if multiple players have this hand ranking.
Three of a kind:
Three equal-valued cards of three suits plus two cards. The highest of the three cards determines the winner if more than one player has this combination.
Two pairs:
Two different sets of two cards of matching rank.
Pair:
A pair of cards of the same rank in different suits. The remainder of the hand is formed from the three highest-ranked cards available.
High card:
The highest card in the hand is your ‘best hand’.