The legendary Royal Flush is the rarest of all poker hands. Technically, it is a Straight Flush with an Ace as the high card, but has its own category. Specifically, a Royal Flush is five cards of the same suit in an uninterrupted sequence that leads up to the Ace: T-J-Q-K-A.
Five cards of the same suit in sequence that isn't Ace High (Royal Flush). Between two Straight Flushes, the one containing the higher top card wins. An ace can be counted as low, so 5-4-3-2-A is a straight flush, but its top card is the Five, not the Ace, so it is the lowest type of straight flush. The highes Straight Flush therefore is K-Q-J-T-9
Four cards of the same rank - such as four Kings. The fifth card is irrelevant. Between two Four of a Kind hands, the one with the higher set of four cards wins. so 3-3-3-3-A is beaten by 4-4-4-4-2.
Four of a Kind hands can't tie in standard poker, but if in some poker variations you need to compare two Four of a Kind hands where the sets of four cards are of the same rank, then the hand with the higher fifth card wins.
This hand consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank - for example three Tens and two Aces (known as "Tens full"). When comparing full houses, the rank of the three cards determines which is higher. For example 9-9-9-4-4 beats 8-8-8-A-A.
Five cards of the same suit in any sequence. When comparing two Flushes, the highest card determines which is higher. If the highest cards are equal then the second highest card is compared; if those are equal too, then the third highest card, and so on. For example K-J-9-3-2 beats K-J-7-6-5 because the nine beats the seven.
Five cards of any suit but in numerical sequence - for example 7-8-9-10-J. When comparing two straights, the hands with the higher ranking top card wins. Ace can count high or low in a straight, A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A.
5-4-3-2-A is the lowest kind of straight, the highest card being the Five.
Three cards of the same numerical value plus two other cards. This combination is known a Set or Trips. When comparing two threes of a kind the hand in which the three equal cards are of higher rank is better.
So for example 5-5-5-3-2 beats 4-4-4-K-Q.
There are two ways of getting Three of a Kind, known as a Set or Trips.
A Set is having a pocket pair, and hitting one the third card on the board.
For example, you hold 88 and the flop is 872.
Trips is when two cards of the same are exposed and one is in your hand.
For example you hold 87, and the flop is 882.
A pair is two cards of equal numerical value. In a hand with Two Pairs, the two pairs are of different ranks (otherwise you would have four of a kind), and there is an odd card to make the hand up to five cards. When comparing hands with two pairs, the hand with the highest pair wins, irrespective of the rank of the other cards - so J-J-2-2-4 beats 10-10-9-9-8 because the jacks beat the tens.
If the higher pairs are tied, the lower pairs are compared, so 8-8-6-6-3 beats 8-8-5-5-K.
Finally, if both pairs are the same, the fifth cards are compared, so Q-Q-5-5-8 beats Q-Q-5-5-4.
A hand with two cards of equal rank and three other cards which do not match these or each other. When comparing two such hands, the hand with the higher pair wins. - so for example 6-6-4-3-2 beats 5-5-A-K-Q.
If the pairs are equal, compare the highest ranking odd cards from each hand; if these are equal, compare the second highest odd card, and if these are equal, compare the lowest odd cards. So J-J-A-9-3 beats J-J-A-8-7 because the 9 beats the 8.
