The rules of poker are simple and the way the hands are ranked is very straight forward. In total there are 10 different kinds of hands you can have. These hands are ranked from top to bottom from the Royal Flush to the single high card.

In Texas Hold’em poker, the most popular form of poker, it doesn’t matter where the cards are coming from. You can make a hand from the two cards in your hand with three cards on the table, one card in your hand with four on the table or with all five cards that are on the table. Do note that if you have a hand with all five cards on the table, your opponent will have at least that hand as well and possibly better.

Basic order of the poker cards

Poker follows the same basic order of cards as most other card games. The highest card is an Ace, followed by King, Queen and Jack. From there it goes down in numbers from 10 until 2. This means that a pair of Aces is higher than a pair of Kings and a three of a kind of Jacks will beat a three of a kind of 7s

Highest card in straight or flush decides

If you have the same hand as an opponent, for example a straight, it matters what the highest card in the straight is. So a straight that goes from 10 until an Ace beats a straight that goes from 9 until a King. The same goes for all other hands where the hands are of the same kind.

Your high cards finish the hand

If the poker hand isn’t formed with five cards, for example with four of a kind, the last card is the highest card that is available. This can be a card you have in your hands or a card that’s lying on the table. The same goes for Two Pair and one Pair..