Hand Ranking In Poker

If you are going to play poker, you need to understand hand rankings. Without knowing what beats what, it’s impossible to know if you have won or lost, and you certainly don’t want to rely on your opponents to tell you. Here, from weak to strong, is the ranking of hands in poker. Please note that the hand ranking in poker is the same as used in video poker, and other poker based casino games.

High Card: A high card hand is one that has no other redeeming value, simply identified by the highest card of the five. The best high card hand is ace high, which beats any five card hand without an ace. If both hands have an ace, go to the next highest card.

Pair: Two of your cards match. The higher your pair, the better your hand. If two players have the same pair, the next highest card (“kicker") determines the better hand.

Two Pair: You have two sets of matching cards with one side card. The highest pair determines the winner. If two players have the same two pair, the kicker determines the better hand.

Three of a Kind: Three of your cards match and there are two unpaired cards.

Straight: Your five cards are consecutive, such as 6 7 8 9 T. The highest card determines who wins between two straights. The lowest straight is A 2 3 4 5 and the highest T J Q K A.

Flush: Your five cards are of the same suit, all spades, hearts, clubs or diamonds. High card determines the winner between two flushes; the suit does not matter.

Full House: Three of your cards match each other and the other two match each other as well. Ties are broken by the strength of the three of a kind.

Four of a Kind: All the cards of a given rank, such as all the fours, all the jacks, etc.

Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 8 9 T J Q all spades. In the unlikely event that two players have straight flushes, the high card determines the winner.

Royal Flush: The highest possible straight flush and the best possible hand in traditional poker. Five cards of the same suit, ten through ace.

If you are going to play poker, you need to understand hand rankings. Without knowing what beats what, it’s impossible to know if you have won or lost, and you certainly don’t want to rely on your opponents to tell you. Here, from weak to strong, is the ranking of hands in poker. Please note that the hand ranking in poker is the same as used in "video poker", and other poker based "casino games".