Every poker player must have a knowledge of poker hand rankings. Following is the hierarchy of possible poker hands arranged from lowest to highest together with a short definition.     
High card
The highest ranked card is an Ace, and the hand ranking runs from this Ace down through the picture cards all the way to 2.
  
Single Pair
Any two cards of the same rank, for example 2 Queens. The ranking of pairs mirrors that of the cards in general, so the strongest pair is a pair of Aces and the weakest a pair of 2s.
Two Pairs Two sets of cards of the same rank, for example two queens and two sevens.
Three of a kind
Also called trips, this is where you have three cards of the same rank, for example three sevens.
 
Straight
Five cards in sequential rank order, for example 8, 9, 10, Jack and a Queen. An ace may be used as both a high and a low card.
Flush Five cards of the same suit, for example five hearts.
Full house
A combination of a pair and three of a kind.
Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank, for example four Sevens.
Straight Flush Same as a straight (see above) but just with all the cards in the same suit.
Royal Flush
The daddy of all poker hands, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace
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