Hand values are important in poker. In all nearly all forms of poker the hand values are the same. Some games have their own funky rules; deuces wild and jokers in play, but most are straight up games of what you see is what you get.
So what beats what in poker? Once you have learned the hand ranking values you'll know what beats what in poker.
Royal Flush
The five highest cards – 10 through ace – all of the same suit. In essence it's an ace high straight flush. Suit is unimportant.
Straight Flush
Five charged cards in consecutive numerical order. The ace can be high or low as in ace, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank, for example four aces. If two players had four of a kind the ranking of the cards would come into play with aces highest.
Full House
Three cards of the same rank, plus any pair of a different rank. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then the pair. So three aces and two 3's would beat three tens and two kings.
Flush
Five non-consecutive cards of the same suit.
Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. An ace high straight say 10, J, Q, K, Ace beats a king high straight of 9,10, J, Q, K. Ace can be high or low.
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank. Three kings would beat three queens.
Two Pair
Two cards of the same rank, plus any other two cards of the same denomination. An example would be two 10s and two kings. If both hands have the same high pair, the second pair wins. If both pairs tie, the high card wins.
Pair
Two cards of the same rank. In a tie, the high card wins.
High Card
If no other hand is achieved, the highest card held wins. Cards are ranked as follows, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, ACE.
