In poker, the thing that separates the average from the expert is one’s ability to use hand rankings as an advantage. Newsflash: winning poker is all about building kickass starting, playing, and finishing hands, and it all depends on how well you know and use the poker hand rankings.

So let’s have a little review to make your next poker run a lot better. Whether you’re new or a regular to the online poker scene, use this as your guide to understanding and mastering the hand rankings in poker.

Poker Hand Rankings: Highest to Lowest

Royal Flush. Just as the name implies, the royal flush is considered royalty among the poker hand rankings. It’s the best hand you can come up with. Five cards of the same suit, with the sequence A-K-Q-J-10.

Straight Flush. Any card sequence, all with the same suit. For example: 9-8-7-6-5

Four of a Kind. This is also one of the best hands you can formulate in poker, wherein you’re holding four cards of the same numerical value, such as four Aces.

Full House. Three cards of the same kind with a pair, such as 8-8-8-4-4.

Flush. This is pne of the most common hands in the poker hand rankings. A flush is composed of any five cards having the same suit, but not arranged in a sequence.

Straight. Cards in a sequence, like 2-3-4-5-6 or 8-9-10-J-Q, make up a straight hand.

Three of a Kind. Three cards of the same rank, for example, 5-5-5.

Two Pair. This hand consists of two different pairs, such as 7-7 combined with 3-3.

Pair. Pair is also a hand you can come up with which is composed of two cards of the same number.

High Card. If you fail to formulate any of the card combinations given above, you settle with the card, which is basically the highest card you are holding.

Poker, whether played online or offline, is best played when you know you’ve fully mastered the game, which is why keeping in mind the poker hand rankings will translate to a better playing experience.