There are few things in poker that you must know of before even trying to get into the game, and poker hand rankings are one of the most important concepts. Having yourself the best five-card poker hand is what wins you the game. Every bet you make, every calculation, all of it comes down to finding the right cards and playing them to their strengths. While there is some luck involved, the way you play them is pure skill.

From the flop poker round to the turn, every card you gain plays into your ultimate result. Here are the ten universally used hands:

Royal Flush

The rarest of all combinations, the Royal Flush, is practically unbeatable. No combination can beat the Royal Flush while it can beat every other beneath it. If there is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, you have yourself a Royal Flush.

Straight Flush

Ranking at number two, the Straight Flush is made up of having five cards of the same suit in a certain sequence. This is a strong hand and rare as well. The Royal Flush is the finest possible Straight Flush that you can have.

Four of a Kind

Another top hand to have would be the Four of a Kind. This combination is made of four cards of the same rank, and the fifth card acts as a kicker if a tie.

Full House

Full Houses are a combination of two other poker hand combinations, and those are the Three of a Kind and the Pair. If you have three cards of the same rank and two other cards of the same rank, you have yourself a Full House.

Flush

Flushes are incredibly reliable, and most often are the nuts in most poker games. This poker hand is made of having five cards of the same suit in no sequence.

Straight

You will often hear about poker players aiming for Straight Draws since they are not as rare and yet strong enough to win. Straights are formed when you have five cards in a sequence where suits do not count.

Three of a Kind

Like the Four of a Kind, the Three of a Kind is a bottom ranking card combination where you have three cards of the same rank.

Two Pair

Two Pair is just what the name suggests. You have two cards of the same rank and two other cards of the same rank.

Pair

Much like the Two Pair, the Pair in poker refers to having two cards of the same kind in your five-card poker hand.

High Card

The least favourite of them all is the High Card ranks at the bottom of the list. This comes when your hand does not fit with other hand combinations. So, the highest card of your pile is used to recognise your hand.

Inference

Learning about poker hands and recognising them in an actual game is one of the most basic of all poker concepts. Knowing how to match and combat against hand rankings gives yourself a position to win the game.