10. Ace – Ten

This can be a decent hand, but you want to be wary of getting too confident with it. The strong point is that you have an Ace, so if you get a Jack – Queen – King on the board, you’re set for a straight. If this hand isn’t in the same suit you might end up with a pair of Aces, but still get beaten by your opponent’s kicker cards.

9. King – Jack

You will want to fold this hand to a big raise because it can be beaten by the other 8 hands on this list, but in a later position this can be a quite a decent hand. Statistically, you can win around 15% of the time if the cards are not of the same suit. If they are in the same suit then your odds go up to a little under 20%.

8. Ace – Jack

This is a decent hand to draw, and playable even if the cards aren’t in the same suit. If they’re suited, it’s obviously better.

7. King – Queen

A very nice drawing hand, but particularly good if in the same suit. You’re only worry here is that an Ace is going to hit the board.

6. Ace – Queen

This is the second best hand you can draw, even if not in the same suit. If you draw it in the same suit then you are looking at 20% odds you are going to win.

5. Jack – Jack

At a ten-handed table, this pair will see you winning about 20% of the time. Watch the flop, though, because shows an ace, king or queen you’ve got to be cautious.

4. Ace – King

This is a strong hand to have dealt to you, but it can be tricky in play. Of all the drawing hands, this is the strongest. However, to really make it live up to its potential you need the flop to give you a pair of Kings or, better yet, Aces. If you can get these two cards in the same suit you have an edge because then it’s easier to make the best flush.

3. Queen – Queen

Double Queens is a very nice hand to draw and it’s going to give you an advantage over all cards Jack and lower. Sure, Aces or Kings will beat this hand, but other than that with these two “ladies” you’ve got a good shot at winning.

2. King – King

Also referred to as “cowboys”, double Kings is the second best hand to draw. It’s very strong and the only way you can get beaten is by double Aces.

1. Ace – Ace

In Texas Hold’em there is no better hand to have and this little pair is the most likely to win you some big money. In poker lingo it’s also called bullets, pocket rockets or American Airlines.

Armed with this knowledge you are bound to win more because most beginners and even mid-level novice poker players end up playing when they really ought to fold. If you can resist this temptation and work the odds in a more favorable direction then you really will win at online poker.

The right knowledge is what sets those who are serious about winning this game apart from those who are simply looking for a little fun and don’t mind losing money in order to do it. By informing yourself of what the pros know by heart you’re on your way to getting in at a winning table and maybe even making a name for yourself.

The key here is that poker hands are grouped in certain categories. These categories are a two pair, a straight, a flush, etc. Whenever two players each have a hand, the player who holds the hand that is higher ranking hand wins. When the players both have hands that fall into the same category, the player with the higher ranking cards wins. Ace is valued you highest and two is, of course, the lowest ranking card. A suit is the division of the cards by their symbols, such as hearts, spades, diamonds or clubs.

If you keep the following categories of poker hands in mind, you’ll find it much easier to keep track of who’s winning at your table and why, even if you are an absolute beginner.

Straight Flush – This is a hand composed of 5 cards in order that are all in the suit. If two players come up with a Straight Flush, whoever has the higher value wins. A flush of Ace – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 is the lowest in value, but 10 – Jack – Queen – King – Ace is the highest and called a Royal Flush.

Four of a Kind – This is hand is simple, whenever you have four cards of the same numerical value you have Four of a Kind. In poker lingo, have four Jacks would be called Quad Jacks or if it was four 7’s, Quad 7’s. If two players have the same Quads, then the fifth card in their hand comes into play and that fifth card is referred to as the kicker. Whoever has the highest valued kicker between tied players wins.

Full House – This hand is made up of Three of a Kind (such as 3 Queens) and a Pair (such as 2 Aces). In poker lingo it is also referred to as a Boat. Whenever two players both end up with a Full House, whoever has the highest ranking Three of a Kind wins. If players end up with the same Three of a Kind, the highest ranking Pair determines the winner.

Flush – Five cards in the same suit is a Flush and if two players both hold a Flush, the highest wins. To determine value the higher ranking hand, the cards are compared. First the highest value card is compared, then the second and so on, until a winner is determined.

Straight – A hand that is made up of 5 cards from any suits in numerical sequence (such as 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10) is called a Straight. When two players both end up with Straights, the higher valued hand wins. The lowest ranking Straight, 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – Ace, is called a wheel and the highest ranking Straight is 10 – Jack – Queen – King – Ace.

Three of a Kind – When two players each have a Three of a Kind (known in poker lingo as trips), the one of higher value wins. If they are of equal value, then the value of the kicker cards comes into play and they will break the tie. In Texas Hold’em, if you have a Pocket Pair and you add a third card to the board to form trips, this is called a set.

Two Pair – Two pairs of two cards of the same value (such as two 7’s and two Aces) is called a Two Pair. When breaking a tie between two players who both hold Two Pair hands, the highest pairs are compared and if these are equal, then the second pairs come into play. If these are also equal, the kickers are used to break the tie.

Pair – Two cards with the same numerical value (such as two 4’s or two Kings) are called a Pair. If players both have Pairs, the highest Pair wins. If both Pairs are equal, then the kickers are compared, beginning with the highest value in each hand then the second highest and so on, until a winner is determined.

High Card – When a hand doesn’t fit into any of the above categories, then you judge it by the highest valued card. In poker lingo a hand with a King for a high card is called King high if the highest card were an 8, it would be called 8 high. When two hands both have the same highest card, you compare the second, then the third and so on until you come up with a winner.