Poker is the most popular casino game. The popularity of this card game has taken off over the past decade or so following live events being broadcasted on TV. Like many other casino games the internet has helped increase the game’s popularity with the increase in the number of online casinos and ease of access to them.

For newbies wanting to be a part of the action there aren’t too many rules to learn. However, poker hands are very important. It goes without saying that they are essential to know before you sit down at the poker table. You don’t want to appear nervous not knowing the stronger hands during a game, or worse still, asking during a game as that may give away your hand and understanding of the game.

A good way to memorize cards is to play the game itself. This puts you in real-life situations where you need to know if you have a good hand or not. Online casinos even offer free practice play on their websites to give you time to learn them. Check out a reputable online casino such as: Paddy Power, to help learn poker hands.

Poker hands are rated based on the likelihood of a player receiving them. Here are some basic hands to remember:

High card

If you have zero pairs then the value of your hand is dependent on the value of your highest card. Ace and face cards are the highest and a 2 is the lowest.

One Pair

This is two cards of the same value in different suits. For example, this could be the 8 of spades and the 8 of clubs.

Two Pairs

This means you have two pairs of cards of the same value in different suits. This could be a 7 of hearts and a 7 of spades, and a 5 of clubs and a 5 of spades.

Three of a Kind

This is three cards of the same value in different suits, such as the 6 of clubs, 6 of diamonds and 6 of spades.

Then divide your hand with the straight. Your hand falls in the middle of the poker hand rankings. A straight is five cards of consecutive values in any suit. Your straight may consist of a 4, 5, 6, 7 and an 8 in any combination of suits for example.

Flush

A Flush consists of five cards of any value in the same suit. For example a 3, 5, 8, 9 and King of hearts.

Full House

This hand combines one pair and three of a kind. This could be a 2 of hearts and 2 of diamond paired with a 5 of spades, 5 of diamonds and 5 of clubs.

Four of a Kind

This is when your hand consists of four cards of the same value in each of the four suits. This means you could have the 8 of clubs, 8 of diamonds, 8 of hearts and the 8 of spades.

Straight Flush

This is five cards of consecutive values in a single. So this could be as a 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of spades.

Royal Straight Flush

This is the same as the straight flush but with an Ace as a high card, so a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of any suit. This is an unbeatable hand. The probability of landing this hand has odds of 649,739:1.