If you don't know what beats what in poker than don't waste your money because you will lose!!!

I mean come on lets be realistic here. If you don't know which hand is better than the other, how can you expect to win?

A couple of definitions you need to know before we proceed are rank and kicker. Rank is the value assigned to any given card and going from lowest to highest in poker, the order would be 2345678910JQKA. For example 6 is ranked higher than 5 but lower than 7.

The other definition you should be aware of is the term kicker. A kicker for the purposes of this article is a card that decides who wins in the case of a tie. For example if two people have 3 kings, the winner will be decided by who has the highest unpaired card called the kicker.

Below you will find exactly what you need to get yourself started in the game of Poker. I have listed the hands ranking from the worst to the best. Make sure you commit the information contained in this article to memory before you start playing Poker!!!

There are only 10 hands and their variations that you have to remember in order to know exactly what beats what in poker.

High Card - A high card is a hand where you have nothing and the highest card in your hand is what marks the strength of your hand. For example if you have 2389Q than you have a Queen high. If no one in the game has anything, than the winner is decided by the person with the highest card.

Pair - Next you have your pairs ranking from 22 all the way to AA. If two people have the same pair, than the winner is the person who has the highest kicker with their pair. For example if one player has AA89K and the other has AA9JQ. The AA89K will win because you have a pairs of Aces with a King kicker.

2 Pair would be the next best hand - 2 pair will work the same as the above when it comes to the kicker except you have 2 pairs in your hand instead of one.

3 of a Kind - 3 of a kind is when you have 3 cards of the same rank such as 3 Kings or 3 Eights

Straight - A Straight is a hand where you have 5 cards that connect to each other in consecutive order such as A2345 or 10JQKA. It is important to note that an Ace can be used to complete a straight in poker from Ace to 5 or 10 to Ace.

Flush - A flush is when you have 5 cards that are all of the same suit such as 5 hearts or 5 Spades. The winning hand is decided by the highest card in the hand.

Full House - A Full House is when you have 3 cards of the same rank and also 2 cards of the same rank such as AAA88 or 444JJ. If two Full Houses exist the winner is first decided by the player with the highest 3 cards of the same rank. So in this case AAA88 would win. In Texas Holdem, if both players have the same 3 cards of the same rank than the winner is decided by the other 2 cards of the same rank. For example, if one player has AAA88 and the other has AAAJJ than the person with AAAJJ wins.

4 Of a Kind - You have 4 of a kind when you have 4 cards of the same rank. You can not have a tie with 4 of a kind in Texas Holdem. However you can be beat by a higher 4 of a kind, a Straight Flush or a Royal Straight Flush. However this very rarely happens so if you get 4 of a kind, be willing to bet all of your chips.

Straight Flush - A Straight Flush is exactly what it says. It is a Straight and a Flush. In other words it is 5 cards that are linked together in consecutive order and also of all the same suit.

Royal Straight Flush - A Royal Straight Flush is a straight flush with the highest straight possible. For example 10JQKA of hearts. If you get a Royal Straight Flush it is impossible to be beaten so be willing to bet everything you have!