The deck and hand rankings

Texas hold'em uses a standard 52-card deck. You get two private hole cards, and five shared community cards land in the middle. Your hand is the best five cards you can assemble from those seven. You can use both hole cards, one, or none.

Hands rank by rarity. From strongest to weakest:

1. Straight flush: five in a row, all one suit (the ace-high version is the royal flush)
2. Four of a kind: all four cards of one rank
3. Full house: three of a kind plus a pair
4. Flush: five of one suit
5. Straight: five ranks in a row (the ace can play high or low)
6. Three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card

When two players hold the same category, the leftover cards (kickers) break the tie. A lot of money at low stakes changes hands over kickers, which is why the drills repeat it until it's automatic.