These are the winning poker hands,  from strongest to weakest.  No matter what kind of poker you're playing,  this basic ranking holds constant,  so it must be learned before playing.  It’s easy and fun to familiarize yourself with the rank of poker hands by signing up for practice or  "play money"  games,  which are offered by PartyPoker.com,  PacificPoker.com,  Pokerroom.com,  and Truepoker.com.

1.  Royal Flush:  A-K-Q-J-T  of any suit.  This hand is a Straight  (five cards in succession, like 2-3-4-5-6)  AND a Flush  (all cards of the same suit)  with an Ace high,  so of all poker hands it is the highest Straight Flush possible.<>

2.  Straight Flush:  Five cards in order,  all of the same suit.

3.  Four of a Kind:  A poker hand including four cards of the same rank,  like four Jacks.  If two players in a game each have Four of a Kind,  the higher four wins.

4.  Full House:  A hand consisting of a pair and three of a kind.  If two players have Full Houses,  the player who has the higher three of a kind wins.

5.  Flush:  All cards are of the same suit.  If two players have poker hands of Flushes,  the one with the highest card in his hand wins.

6.  Straight:  A hand of five cards that may be of different suits but running in ranking order,  such as 4-5-6-7-8.

7.  Three of a Kind:  A hand including three cards of the same rank,  as in K-K-K-4-7.  If a second player has Three of a Kind,  the higher ranking set of three cards wins.

8.  Two Pair:  A hand including two cards of the same rank,  and two cards of another rank,  such as 6-6-2-10-10.  If another player has Two Pair,  the one with the highest-ranking pair wins.

9.  Pair:  A hand including two cards of the same rank,  as in 8-8-K-2-Q.  If a pair is the best hand,  and more than one player has a pair,  the highest rank pair wins;  if two poker hands have the same pair,  such as 3-3-K-7-4,  and 3-3-8-A-6,  the one with the highest other card besides the pair wins.

10.  High Card:  When no one has a pair or any other better hand,  the one with the highest card wins.  If more than one has that high card, then the second highest wins.  Or third highest,  if two poker hands have the same two highest cards.