Royal Flush

This is the highest possible poker hand. It consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten, all in the same suit. In poker all suites are equal, so all royal flushes are equal. If more than one player has a Royal Flush, the pot is split between those players.

Straight Flush

A Straight Flush consists of 5 cards in numerical sequence, all of the same suit and not starting with an Ace. Between two Straight Flushes, the one containing the higher top card is higher. An Ace can also be counted as low, so 5-4-3-2-A is a Straight Flush, but its top card is the Five, so it's the lowest type of Straight Flush. Note that the cards cannot "turn the corner", so 4-3-2-A-K is not valid.

Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank, the fifth card can be anything. This combination is also known as "Quads". Between two Fours of a Kind, the one with the higher set of four cards is higher. If two players share exactly the same Four of a Kind, the fifth card will decide who wins the pot, the bigger card the better.

Full House

This consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. When comparing two Full Houses, the player with the higher three cards of the same rank is the winner. If those three cards are the same, the other two cards are compaired.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit in any order. If two players make a Flush, the player with the highest card wins the pot. If both have the same highest card, then go to the second highest card card, and so on.

Straight

Five cards of mixed suits in sequence. When comparing two sequences, the one with the higher ranking top card is better. An Ace can count high or low in a Straight, but not both at once, so A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A are valid Straights, but 2-A-K-Q-J is not. 5-4-3-2-A is the lowest kind of Straight, the top card being the Five.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank plus two other cards. This combination is also known as "Trips". When comparing two Threes of a Kind the hand in which the three equal cards are of higher rank is better. If you have to compare two Threes of a Kind where the sets of three are of equal rank, then the higher of the two remaining cards in each hand are compared.

Two Pair

Any two cards of the same rank together with another two cards of the same rank. When comparing hands with Two Pairs, the hand with the highest pair wins. If the higher pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared. Finally, if both pairs are the same, the remaining card is compared, so Q-Q-5-5-8 beats Q-Q-5-5-4.

One Pair

A hand with two cards of equal rank and three other cards. When comparing two such hands, the hand with the higher pair is better. 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 too compare the lowest odd cards.

High Card

Any hand that does not make up any of the above mentioned hands. If two players showdown hands with just a high card, the player with the highest card wins the pot. If those are equal, then the 2nd highest card from both hands are compared, and so on.