Getting into a game of poker requires some smarts, some strategy and some luck. But more importantly, it requires a thorough knowledge of the game's rules. Because without these rules it's impossible to know what sort of hand you're trying to put together and how it ranks against the hands of your fellow poker players.
The combinations of Poker hands (ranked low to high) include: the High Card, a Pair, Two Pairs, Three-of-a-Kind, a Straight, a Flush, A Full House, Four-of-a-Kind, a Straight Flush and a Royal Flush. Holding any of these combinations will give you a sniff at the pot, but the closer you get to Poker gold in the Royal Flush, the bigger the likelihood of winning.
High Cards are an A, K, Q, J and 10. Watch for the community cards, they can give you a hot hand. A pair ranks highest with Royals and Aces. Two Pairs are achieved by combinations of hole cards and community cards. Three-of-a-Kind are likewise 3 cards of the same value from hole cards and community cards. A Straight comprises any suit of 5 cards in sequential order. A Flush is any 5 cards of the same suit; a Full House is 3-of-a-Kind and a Pair. Four-of-a-Kind comprises 4 identical value cards. A Straight Flush is 5 cards of the same suit in sequential order. And the big daddy of Poker is the Royal Flush - 5 cards in sequential order from 10, J, Q, K and A.