The highest-ranked card is an Ace, and the ranking runs from the Ace down through the picture cards all the way to 2. If two players have the same high card, look to the next card… and so on.

Any two cards of the same rank, such as two Queens. The strongest pair to have is two Aces, while the weakest is a brace of 2s.

Two sets of cards of the same rank, for example two Queens plus two 6s.

Also called trips or a set, this is where you have three cards of the same rank in your hand, such as three 7s.

Five differently suited cards in sequential rank order, for example 8-9-10-J-Q. In this situation, an Ace may be considered as either a high-ranking or a low-ranking card, thus straights also include both A-2-3-4-5 and 10-J-Q-K-A.

Five non-sequential cards of the same suit, for example five diamonds.

A combination of a pair and three of a kind. Here, the hand is referred to a 6s (the set) full of Queens (the pair). If two players make a full house, the one containing the higher-scoring three of a kind wins – 8s full of 4s would beat this hand.

Pretty self-explanatory when you already know what three of a kind is: four is simply four cards of the same rank, such as four Queens.

A straight, but with all the cards in the same suit. Hope to get one in your first year of playing!

The daddy of all poker hands, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. The hand everyone wants. Once in a lifetime, baby.