Poker Hand Ranking

Written by wideleaguepoker.com

Poker Strategy - Poker Basics

Standard Poker Hand Ranking

 

There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the individual cards, from high to low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no ranking between the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal. A poker hand consists of five cards. The categories of hand, from highest to lowest, are listed below. Any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category (so for example any three of a kind beats any two pairs). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better, as described in more detail below. In games where a player has more than five cards and selects five to form a poker hand, the remaining cards do not play any part in the ranking. Poker ranks are always based on five cards only.

In poker, certain combination of cards, or hands, outrank other hands, based on the frequency with which these combinations appear.

The player with the best poker hand at the showdown wins the pot. Although used in poker, these hand rankings are also used in a variety of other card games.

 

	Royal Flush The five highest cards, the 10 through the Ace, all five of the same suit. A royal flush is actually an ace-high straight flush. Which suit it is doesn't matter in poker. Two people with royal flushes would tie.
	Straight Flush Any five cards of the same suit in consecutive numerical order. Our example shows a five-high straight flush.
	Four of a Kind Four cards of the same denomination. Our example shows four jacks with a deuce kicker.
	Full House Any three cards of the same denomination, plus any pair of a different denomination. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then the pair. Our example shows sevens full of threes.
	Flush Any five non-consecutive cards of the same suit. Our example shows a queen-high diamond flush.
	Straight Any five consecutive cards of mixed suits. Ace can be high or low. Our example shows a six-to-ten straight.
	Three of a Kind Three cards of the same denomination.Our example displays three of a kind, fours.
	Two Pair Any two cards of the same denomination, plus any other two cards of the same denomination. If both hands have the same high pair, the second pair wins. If both pairs tie, the high card wins. Our example shows two pair, eights and fives.
	Pair Any two cards of the same denomination. Our example displays a pair of nines. In a tie, the high card wins.
	High Card If no other hand is achieved, the highest card held wins. In our example, the king of hearts is the high card.