The first thing you need to learn when starting out in poker is the ranking of poker hands. These hand rankings are the same for almost all games, with the exception of low card games, such as lowball, and Razz, where the lowest hand wins. For the majority of poker games you will play, the highest hand wins.

There are four suits in poker: Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs

There are 13 cards in each suit: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A.

ROYAL FLUSH
The Royal flush is nearly impossible to achieve in a standard game (A game without wild cards) It is a straight, plus a flush combined, from 10 to A.

STRAIGHT FLUSH
A Straight, Plus a Flush combined. All 5 cards of the same suit, in order.

4 OF A KIND
4 Cards of the same rank: JJJJ for example

FULL HOUSE
3 of a Kind + a pair: AAAJJ for example

FLUSH
5 cards of the same suit: 5 cards that are all hearts.

STRAIGHT
5 cards in order: 34567 for example

3 OF A KIND
3 cards of the same rank: JJJ for example

2 PAIR
2 sets of 2 cards of the same rank: 8844 for example

1 PAIR
a set of cards of the same ranke: JJ for example

HIGH CARD
No pair, no flush, no straights in your hand. The highest ranking card wins!