Poker Hand Rankings
If you’re new to poker, sometimes remembering what hands are winners can be confusing. Even someone who has played a few months has been known to ask whether a Straight Flush is better than a Full House. Here is the full breakdown of the 10 possible winning hands. You may want to bookmark this article or print it so you always have it before you.
10. Royal Flush: This is the best hand possible. Nothing—absolutely nothing—can beat it. It consists of the top five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, Ah, Kh, Qh, Jh, Th.
9. Straight Flush: This second-best-hand-ever consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 4d, 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d.
8. Four of a Kind: This is any four cards that are the same. For example, 7d, 7h, 7c, 7s.
7. Full House: This is Three-of-a-Kind plus Two-of-a-Kind together. For example, Qh, Qc, Qd, 4h, 4c. This is also known as “Queens full of Fours.”
6. Flush: This is five cards of the same suit, but not consecutive. For example, Kh, Jh, 8h, 7h, 2h. This case would also be known as a “King-high Flush.”
5. Straight: This is five cards in consecutive order, but not necessarily the same suit. For example, 3h, 4h, 5d, 6c, 7h.
4. Three-of-a-Kind: This is three cards that are the same. For example, 7d, 7h, 7c.
3. Two Pair: This is two sets of two cards that are the same. For example, 7d, 7h, Tc, Th.
2. Pair: This is two cards that are the same. For example, 7d, 7h.
1. High Card: This is when you have the highest card and no one else has any of the above. For example, you have a Qd and your opponent has none of the above combinations or an A, K or Q.
Knowing these basic hand combinations is critical to early success in poker, online or off-line. Once you know these hands like, er, the back of your hand, the next trick is to be able to spot them on the board. There’s nothing quite as discouraging as being excited about your Straight only to be beaten by a Flush you never even realized was there.
So memorize this chart if you have to, or at least keep it beside you…and soon seeing the hands listed above will be second nature.
