Poker Hand Rankings

Online poker has proven it is here to stay. Millions of people are playing on the many internet poker sites. But for those who want to play but are a bit intimidated by the rules, here’s an easy-to-use guide to the winning hand rankings you’d use if you were at the table.

The hand rankings are explained here in descending order.

Royal Flush

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In Texas Hold’em only one player can have this hand. The hand is made up of a Straight (details of a straight later) from ten to ace. And all the cards come from the same suite. For example – 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace all of spades.

Straight Flush

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This is also a very high winning hand to have and therefore only one player at the table can have it. A Straight Flush is five cards all in numerical order and once again of the same suite. For example – 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 all of spades.

Four-of-A-Kind

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Four-of-a-Kind is an easy one. Four cards, all of the same kind! The value needs to be the same but suites can be different. For example – 8 of hearts, 8 of spades, 8 of diamond and 8 of clubs. If more than one person has four-of-a-kind, the player holding the higher value cards wins.

Full House

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A pair of cards and three cards of the same value make a full house. Suites can be different. For example, Jack of hearts, Jack of spades, 6 of hearts, 6 of spades, 6 of diamonds. If two or more players have a Full House combination, the player with the higher value cards wins.

Flush

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Any five cards of the same suite make a Flush. The cards don’t have to be in numerical order but they have to be of the same suite. For example – Queen of hearts, 8 of hearts, 6 of hearts, 4 of hearts, 2 of hearts. If more than one player has a Flush, whoever has the highest card in their Flush would win.

Straight

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Five cards that are in numerical order but are made up of different suites. For example – Queen of diamonds, Jack of hearts, 10 of hearts, 9 of spades, 8 of diamonds. Once again, if two players have a Straight, the player with the highest value card wins. If two players have an equally strong Straight, the pot is split between the two.

Three-of-A-Kind

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Just like Four-of-a-Kind, only one less. Any suite will do. But values must be the same in all three cards. For example – 8 of hearts, 8 of diamonds, 8 of spades, 3 of diamonds and 6 of spades. If more than one player holds Three-of-a-Kind, then the winner is determined by the “kicker” which is the highest card not part of the Three-of-a-Kind. In the example, it would be the 6 above.

Two Pair

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Two sets of two similar of cards in the same hand. They don’t have to be of the same suit. For example – 10 of spades, 10 of hearts, 6 of hearts, 6 of spades, 4 of diamonds. Two pair hands are evaluated in order of the highest pair. If two or more players have Two Pair, the “kicker” comes into play.

Pair

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Two cards of the same value in one hand. Suite doesn’t matter. For example – 3 of hearts, 3 of spades, 7 of spades, 8 of diamonds, jack of clubs. The highest pair wins if more than one player has a Two Pair. If more than one player has the same Pair, then the “kicker” decides who wins.

High Card

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The weakest hand ranking, with just a High Card to show. For example, Ace of spades, Jack of clubs, 8 of diamonds, 7 of diamonds, 5 of hearts. It is very easy for other players to beat this hand if they have any higher hand rankings, but if they don’t this hand will beat any other hand as it has an Ace in it.