Poker-UK.net
A poker hand is made up of 5 cards. Listed below are all possible hands, starting with the best hand and going down to the lowest.
Not all the hands above consist of five cards - in those cases you make up your five card hand with your highest cards, or 'kickers', which determine the winner in the event of two players having the same hand. When both opponents have the same kickers as well, the pot is split between them. There is no distinction between suits - a hand is never decided on the basis of one suit being worth more than another.
The best possible hand - 10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit. There are only four possible combinations of this hand (one for each suit).
Five consecutive cards of the same suit, eg 8-9-10-J-Q of diamonds is a 'Straight Flush, Queen High'.
Four cards of the same face value, eg four kings (plus one kicker to make up a five card hand).
Three of a Kind plus one pair, eg three queens and two fives.
Any five cards all of the same suit, eg A-5-9-J-3 of clubs is a 'Flush, Ace High'.
Five consecutive cards of any suits, eg 5H-6C-7D-8C-9S is a 'Straight, 9 High'. Aces can be high or low, but an Ace high straight (10-J-Q-K-A) beats a five high straight (A-2-3-4-5).
Three cards of the same value, eg three tens (plus two kickers to complete the five card hand).
Two pairs, eg two fives and two Jacks (plus one kicker to complete the five card hand).
Two cards of the same value, eg two sevens (plus three kickers to complete the five card hand).
When none of the above hands can be made, your hand is determined by the highest card in your hand, eg if you have JS-QH-7C-5C-2D you have 'Queen High'.