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Below is a list of poker hand rankings, starting with the lowest value, and ending with the highest hand value possible.

Hand

Explanation

High card

In poker, aces are counted as being high (the only exception being in the straight A 2 3 4 5). The best high card is an ace, followed by a king, and thirdly being a queen etc.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows 2h 5c 7h 8d Qd

In this situation you have king high.

Your best five card hand is - Kc Qd 10s 8d 7h

A pair

As the name suggests, this is when you have two cards of the same value, 2,2 being the worst pair, and A,A being the best.

Example:      

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows 10h 2c Qs 5h 3c

In this situation you have a pair of 10's.

Your best five card hand is - 10s 10h Qs 5h 3c

Two pair

This is when you have two cards of the same value, and another two different cards which are also of the same value.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows 2c Ks 9h 8h 10c

In this situation you have two pair. A pair of kings and a pair of 10's.

Your best five card hand is - Kc Ks 10s 10c 9h

Three of a kind

(often called trips or a set)

This is when you have three cards of the same value.

Example: 

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows 2c 10h 3d 10c 9h

In this situation you have three of a kind 10's.

Your best five card hand is - 10s 10h 10c Kc 9h

A straight

You have a straight if you have five consecutive cards. The lowest straight being A 2 3 4 5, and the highest - 10 J Q K A.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows 3c As Jd 5h Qd

In this situation you have an ace high straight.

Your best five card hand is - As Kc Qd Jd 10s

A flush

You have a flush if you have five cards of the same type (i.e. five hearts, clubs, spades, or diamonds).

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows Qc 8c 2s 2c 5c

In this situation you have a king high flush, as you have five clubs, the highest of which is a king.

Your best five card hand is - Kc Qc 8c 5c 2c

Full house        

(often known as

a full boat)

This is when you have three cards of the same value, and another two different cards, which are also of the same value. The lowest value full house being 2 2 2 3 3 and the highest A A A K K.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows Ks 3d Kh 10h 5d

In this situation you have full house - kings full of 10's.

Your best five card hand is - Kc Ks Kh 10s 10h

Four of a kind

(often known as quads)

As the name suggests, this is when you have four cards of the same value. 2 2 2 2 being the lowest and A A A A being the highest.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows Ks Kh 9h 8s Kd

In this situation you have four of a kind kings.

Your best five card hand is - Kc Ks Kh Kd 10s

Note: Always remember that texas hold'em is a game of five cards. So if the board shows four of a kind, the player with the highest kicker will win.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

Your opponent holds Ac 2s

The board shows 5c 5s 5h jh 5d

In this situation you have four of a kind 5's with a king kicker, but your opponent has you beat with four of a kind 5's with an ace kicker.

Your best five card hand is - 5c 5s 5h 5d Kc

Your opponents best five card hand is - 5c 5s 5h 5d Ac

Straight flush

This is when you have five consecutive cards of the same suit.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows Ac 7s Js 8s 9s

In this situation you have a jack high straight flush.

Your best five card hand is - Js 10s 9s 8s 7s

Royal flush

If your ever lucky enough to get one of these (the probability of which is - 1 in 649,740), this is what it will look like - A K Q J 10 all of the same suit.

Example:

You hold Kc 10s

The board shows 10c 8h Ac Qc Jc

In this situation you have a royal flush.

Your best five card hand is - Ac Kc Qc Jc 10c