In a game of poker, players have to form their best five-card combination called poker hands as per the rules of the poker game. During a showdown, each five-card combination has a rank and the ranks of the players in the hand are compared to determine the best poker hand.
Though the rules vary according to the poker tournament variant, the highest poker hand ranking always wins. Poker hand order is determined by the pattern formed by the cards. If the patterns formed are the same, then the poker card rankings determine the winner. Individual cards in poker order are ranked highest to lowest: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2.
Suits are not ranked, so hands that differ by suit alone are of equal rank. The top poker hands to play fall into nine categories using a standard deck of 52 cards. A player can form 2,598,960 distinct poker hands since the order in which they are dealt with are inconsequential. Since the suits are of equal rank, a player can form 7462 distinct texas Holdem poker hands.

A deck of cards is split into four suits:
♣ Club
♦ Diamond
♥ Heart
♠ Spade

All suits carry the same value as per poker hand order.

The key to play poker is knowing the texas Holdem rankings and learning how to play these best poker hands.
1. Pocket Aces - Every poker player knows the power of this poker card ranking. Pocket aces are also the strongest starting hand in poker hand order. They make the best poker hand pre-flop and the odds are 4:1 favourite over any other poker hand. One in every 221 poker hands is a pocket ace and if you're a serial grinder, you should know how to play this best poker hand.
Also known as Pocket Rockets, Two Pips.
2. Pocket Kings - Pocket Kings are a favourite against any hand (except aces). This texas Holdem poker hand is winning two-thirds of the time against Ace high and therefore ranks just below pocket aces in poker hand order in real money poker game.
Also known as Cowboys, King Kong, Ace Magnets.
3. Pocket Queens - One of the best poker hands to play poker strongly pre-flop. You should be raising or re-raising from any position with these Ladies. This texas Holdem poker hand is likely to be called by plenty of opponents with not the best poker hands.
Also known as Ladies.
4. Ace-King Suited - This is a texas Holdem poker hand easy to fall in love with. While pre-flop in remains a great hand beating post pocket pairs (except kings and aces). But it’s important to realize that if you don’t connect with the flop, then you only have an ace-high.
Also known as Big Slick, Anna Kournikova, Big Ugly.
5. Pocket Jacks - This is the best poker hand against any unpaired hand and strong pre-flop over any weaker waits. A great texas Holdem poker hand to play in late position with an unraised pot, but be wary of the early position raises.
Other Nicknames: Brothers, Suckers.
6. Pocket Tens - Pocket tens are a strong starting hand in poker. This texas Holdem poker hand will still win against overcards most times and is good enough not hitting a third on the flop. If the pot has witnessed a lot of action before you, it’s an easy fold with this texas Holdem ranking.
Also known as Dimes, TNT, Dynamite.
7. Ace-Queen Suited - This is a texas Holdem poker hand that ranks high in poker order due to its relative strength compared to other starting hands. It’s a tricky hand to play and might require you to fold even after hitting a pair on the flop. If you miss the flop with this poker hand, it’s best to fold and stay out of trouble.
Also known as Little Slick, Antony & Cleopatra, Mrs Slick, Rocket Queen.
8. Ace-King Offsuit - This is the best poker hand to be calling in position pre-flop to keep the pot small and also get paid if you pair one of the two hole cards. It’s not as strong as its suited counterpart and you have to keep in mind that you’ve reduced your chances of hitting a flush, however, it’s still 40% favourite.
9. Ace-Jack Suited - The potential of this hand like an AK or AQ suited are the odds of hitting a royal flush. However, this texas Holdem poker hand needs to be played wisely especially when you have a player raising in early position. An AK or AQ will have you beat and it’s wise to not fall in love with your AJ suited.
Also known as Hijack, Jackass, Apple Jacks.
10. King-Queen Suited - King-queen suited is a great texas Holdem poker hand that is known to flop well. It opens up a large number of straights and flushes, and the odds of hitting a high pair making it one of the best poker hands to play.
Also known as Marriage.

The best poker hand. The suit does not matter. It’s an ace-high straight flush.

A texas Holdem poker hand made up of five cards in sequential order and of the same suit. in the same If two players have a straight flush at showdown, the highest-ranking card as per poker card rankings will win. A straight flush beats four of a kind.

Four of a kind is four cards of the same poker card rank. If two players have a four of a kind, the hand with the highest-ranking as per poker card rankings wins. If two players have the same four of a kind, the player with the highest kicker card wins. A four of a kind beats a full house.

A full house consists of a set of one rank and a pair of another rank. If two players have a full house, the player with the highest set as poker card rank wins. If the triplet is the same, the player with the highest pair wins. A full house beats a flush.

A flush is a texas Holdem poker hand where all five cards are of the same suit. It does not need to be in sequential order. A flush is ranked first by the highest card and then by the second highest card. A flush beats a straight.

A straight is a texas Holdem poker hand that contains five cards in sequential order but are not of the same suit. If two players have a straight, the player with the highest-ranking card as per poker card rank wins. A straight beats a three of a kind.

A three of a kind is a texas Holdem poker hand consisting of three cards of the same rank. If two players have a three of a kind, the player with the highest-ranking three of a kind wins. A three of a kind beats a two pair.

A two pair is a texas Holdem poker hand consisting of two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. If two players have a two-pair, the player with the highest-ranking pairs as per poker card rank wins. If both pairs are the same, the winner of the hand is determined by the kicker. A two pair beats one pair.

One pair is a texas Holdem poker hand that contains two cards of the same rank. If both players have one pair, the player with the highest-ranking pair as per poker card rank wins. If both pairs are the same, the player with the highest-ranking kicker wins. One pair only beats a high card.

TA high card is a texas Holdem poker hand when your hole cards haven’t formed any of the above poker hands. In this case, your hand will be determined by the single highest-ranking card as per poker card ranks. This the closest texas Holdem poker hand.

The best poker hand is the Royal Flush. Formed by the Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit.

The worst starting hand in texas Holdem poker hands is 3-2 offsuit. Often 7-2 is also referred to as the worst hand since it has less straight potential than a 3-2, despite having higher pot equity.

The poker hand order from strongest to weakest are as follows. Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card.

In most variants of poker, it is necessary to use exactly five cards to make a hand. In texas Holdem poker you have to use any of your hole cards in combination with any of your community cards to form the best five-card poker hand. In Pot Limit Omaha poker you have to use two out of the four hole cards in combination with any of the five community cards to make the best five-card poker hand.