Starting Hands
An article about the importance of good starting hands in Texas Holdem poker.
Poker Hands
Descriptions of winning hands in order.
Low Hands
Descriptions of lowball hands and other games.
Ties in Poker
Kickers explained and what the ranking of suits.
Table Limits
Understanding the differences between pot limit, no limit and fixed.

Poker Hands

In all card games a card has two properties Suit and Rank. There are four suits Spades, Hearts, Clubs, and Diamonds. Each of the suits has thirteen ranks and usually are valued from 2 (the lowest value), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, to Ace (the highest value).

When playing most poker games (a notable exception being low hand games), the ranking of the poker hands is as follows:

Royal Flush

a set of cards containing the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten all of the same suit. An example would be a hand containing the A of Clubs, K of Clubs, Q of Clubs, J of Clubs, and the 10 of Clubs. Your odds of making a Royal Flush are the worst in poker. In a 7 Card game (like Texas Hold'em) the odds are 1 in 30,940. In a 5 Card game the odds are 1 in 649,740.

Straight Flush

a set of 5 sequential cards of the same suit. The cards may not "wrap around" from highest to lowest rank. That is the 5 cards K, A, 2, 3, 4 of hearts is not a straight flush. It is not considered a straight of any kind. An example of a straight flush would be a hand containing the 2 of Hearts, 3 of Hearts, 4 of Hearts, 5 of Hearts, and the 6 of Hearts. The odds of making a Straight Flush are 1 in 3,591 (in a 7 card game) and 1 in 72,193 (in a 5 card game).

Four of a Kind

a set of four cards of the same value (rank) plus a fifth card (referred to as the "kicker"). An example of four of a kind would be a hand containing the 7 of Diamonds, 7 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs, 7 of Spades and the A of Spades. The odds of making a Four of a Kind hand are 1 in 595 (in a 7 Card game) and 1 in 4,165 (in a 5 Card game).

Full House

a set of three cards of one rank plus another two cards of a different rank. An example of a full house would be a hand consisting of the 9 of Hearts, 9 of Clubs, 9 of Spades, along with the 3 of Hearts, and the 3 of Spades. The odds of making a Full House are 1 in 39 (in a 7 Card game) and 1 in 694 (in a 5 Card game).

Flush

a hand containing five cards of the same suit. An example of a Flush would be a hand consisting of the Q of Clubs, 10 of Clubs, 9 of Clubs, 4 of Clubs, and the 2 of Clubs. The odds of making a Flush are 1 in 33 (in a 7 Card game) and 1 in 509 (in a 5 Card game).

Straight

a hand containing five cards in sequence. An example of a Straight would be a hand consisting of the J of Spades, 10 of Hearts, 9 of Clubs, 8 of Diamonds, and the 7 of Hearts. The odds of making a Straight are 1 in 22) (in a 7 Card game) and1 in 255 (in a 5 Card game).

Three of a Kind

a set of three cards of the same value (rank) plus two other cards (referred to as "kickers"). An example of three of a kind would be a hand containing the 5 of Hearts, 5 of Diamonds, 5 of Clubs, plus the K of Hearts, and the 3 of Spades. The odds of making a Three of a Kind hand are 1 in 21 (in a 7 Card game) and 1 in 47 (in a 5 Card game).

Two Pair

a hand with two sets of two cards of the same rank (a pair), plus one card the "kicker". An example of two pair would be a hand containing the 8 of Clubs, and the 8 of Spades (one pair), plus the 2 of Hearts, and the 2 of Diamonds (the second pair), and the K of Hearts (the "Kicker"). The odds of making Two Pair are 1 in 4.26 (in a 7 Card game) and 1 in 21 (in a 5 Card game).

One Pair

a hand with two cards of the same rank and any other three cards. An example of a pair would be a hand containing the 10 of Diamonds and 10 of Hearts (the pair), as well as the A of Clubs, K of Spades, and the 4 of Spades. The odds of making One Pair are 1 in 2.28 (in a 7 Card game) and 1 in 2.37 (in a 5 Card game).

High Card

when none of the above combinations can be made, the highest ranking card in the hand (the High Card) is all you have. An example of a hand containing only a high card would be one containing the J of Spades (the high card), 10 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs, 5 of Spades, and the 4 of Spades. The odds of a no hand are 1 in 5.74 (in a 7 Card game) and 1 in 2.00 (in a 5 Card game).