Poker rankings – Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, understanding poker hand rankings is essential to mastering the game. At the poker table, knowing which hands outrank others can be the difference between winning big and walking away empty-handed. While it might seem confusing at first, once you’ve grasped the ranking system, it becomes much easier to make decisions on whether to bet, fold, or raise.
The poker hand rankings are universal across many popular poker variations, including Pot Limit Omaha and Texas Hold’em. To make it easier for you, we’ve organized the poker hands by strength, from the highest to the lowest. This way, you’ll never have to second-guess which hand is the winner when the showdown happens. So, let’s break down the poker hand rankings and explain what each hand looks like in simple terms.
At the very top of the rankings is the Royal Flush. This is the ultimate hand in poker and is unbeatable. A royal flush consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all of the same suit. It’s extremely rare to get a royal flush, and if you do, you’re guaranteed to win the hand. This is the strongest possible hand in the game, and no other hand can beat it.
Just below the royal flush is the Straight Flush. A straight flush is a hand that contains five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 9-8-7-6-5 all in the same suit would be a straight flush. The only hand that can beat a straight flush is a royal flush. If two players have straight flushes, the player with the highest card wins.
Next is Four of a Kind (also known as quads). This hand consists of four cards of the same rank, such as four Aces or four Kings. If two players have four of a kind, the one with the higher set of four wins. For example, four Aces would beat four Kings.
A Full House comes after four of a kind. This hand is made up of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, a full house could be three 8s and two 4s. In the event that two players have a full house, the one with the higher three-of-a-kind wins. A full house is a very strong hand, and it can beat hands like a flush or straight.
A Flush is made up of five cards of the same suit, but not in consecutive order. For example, a hand of 10♠ 7♠ 5♠ 3♠ 2♠ would be a flush. The strength of a flush is determined by the highest card. If two players have flushes, the one with the highest card wins.
The Straight is made up of five consecutive cards, regardless of their suits. For example, 9♣ 8♦ 7♠ 6♠ 5♦ would be a straight. The strength of a straight is determined by the highest card in the sequence. If two players have straights, the one with the highest card wins.
A Three of a Kind (also known as trips) consists of three cards of the same rank, such as three 7s, along with two unrelated cards. If two players have three of a kind, the higher set of three wins. If both have the same three of a kind, the kicker (the highest other card) determines the winner.
The Two Pair hand consists of two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one unrelated card. For example, a hand with two 10s, two 4s, and a 3 would be two pair. If two players have two pair, the higher pair wins. If both have the same high pair, the second pair is compared.
One Pair consists of two cards of the same rank, plus three unrelated cards. For example, a hand with two 6s and three other random cards would be a pair. If two players have one pair, the player with the higher pair wins. If both players have the same pair, the kicker card is used to determine the winner.
Finally, at the bottom of the rankings is the High Card. This hand consists of five cards that are not connected, not of the same suit, and without any pairs or higher combinations. If no player has any of the higher-ranking hands, the highest card in the hand determines the winner. For example, if a player holds an Ace high hand (A♠ 10♦ 7♣ 5♠ 2♦), they would win over someone holding a King high hand (K♣ 9♠ 8♦ 6♠ 3♣).
In conclusion, poker hand rankings are a fundamental part of the game, and knowing these rankings inside out is key to your success. By understanding the strength of your hand and comparing it to what your opponents might have, you’ll be able to make smarter decisions while playing. So, whether you’re at the poker table with friends or playing online, always keep these poker hand rankings in mind to improve your gameplay and increase your chances of winning.
