Hands
Individual cards are ranked from 2 (low) to Ace (high). Five cards form a hand, and there's nine categories (shown below in descending order of strength).If two players have the same category, then the player with the highest ranked cards used in the category wins (for example two pair of J
J
4
4 beats 997
7).
If both players have the same category and have the same ranked cards, then the remaining hands determine who wins - this remaining card is the 'kicker'.
For example;
J
J44A beats JJ445 because of the A kicker is better than the 5 kicker.
While the ace is normally the highest ranked card, it can also be used as a rank of '1' for a straight, for example A
2345. In this case the ace is the lowest ranked card (in other words the hand is a straight, 5 high).
In order of best hand to the worst;
Straight Flush
All 5 cards are not only the same suit but also in sequential rank (therefore a straight and a flush at the same time);
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank
Full House
Three cards are of the same rank, and the other two cards are of another rank
Flush
All cards are of the same suit
Straight
All cards are in sequential rank
Three of a Kind
Three cards are of the same rank
Two Pair
Simply, two pairs
One Pair
Just one pair
High Card
If you haven't made any of the hands above, then it's just your highest card