Learning the poker hands in order is a crucial step for any player who is serious about playing the game. Not only will it help you to make better decisions at the table, but it will also give you a greater understanding of how the game works.
There are ten different poker rankings, and each one is slightly different from the next. This article will look at all ten of them, with the poker hands ranked from the lowest-ranking hand and working our way up to the highest.
1. High Card
A high card is any hand that does not fit into the other categories. The highest card in your hand is what determines your rank. For example, if you have a king and a nine, you would beat a player with a queen or an eight. It is also the lowest among the poker hands ranked in order.
2. One Pair
One pair is exactly what it sounds like – two cards of the same rank. If you have a pair of threes, you will beat a pair of twos but lose to a pair of fours.
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3. Two Pair
As the name implies, two pair is two sets of pairs. So, for example, you might have a pair of twos and a pair of sevens. Two-pair hands are ranked first by the highest pair and second-highest pair. So, in our example, the sevens would be the deciding factor.
4. Three-of-a-Kind
A three-of-a-kind is three identical cards or cards with the same ranking from different suits. The highest three-of-a-kind you could obtain would be three aces. Three-of-a-kind hands are ranked by the rank of the three cards. So, for example, player A’s three-of-a-kind would be fours while player B’s three-of-a-kind would be kings, player B would have the higher value hand as kings have a higher value than fours.
5. Straight
A straight is five cards in sequential order. It doesn’t matter what suit they are, as long as they are in order. For example, a hand containing five, six, seven, eight, and nine would beat a hand containing three, four, five, six, and seven. In the poker hand hierarchy, a straight is higher than three of a kind but lower than a flush.
6. Flush
Any hand in which all five cards are from the same suit is known as a flush. It doesn’t matter what order they are in as long as they are all in the same suit. In the poker card rankings, a flush is higher than a straight but lower than a full house. Having a flush would still give a player with the hand a significant advantage, as there are still 5 other hands below it.
7. Full House
A full house is a combination of a three-of-a-kind and a pair. So, for example, you might have three kings and two queens. The highest ranking full house will be the one with the highest three of a kind. In our example, the kings would be the deciding factor.
8. Four-of-a-Kind
In poker, four-of-a-kind is a hand that contains all four cards of the same rank. For example, if you are dealt a hand with the following cards: A♣, A♦, A♥, and A♠, you would have four of a kind (also known as quads). While four-of-a-kind is not the rarest poker hand, it is still considered a strong one. When you have four-of-a-kind, you have a nearly guaranteed win against any other hand (except for a Straight Flush or Royal Flush). If you find yourself with quads in your hand, be sure to bet aggressively to maximize your chances of success!
9. Straight Flush
A poker hand consists of five cards, which can be of any combination. The various combinations are ranked in order from highest to lowest. A straight flush is the second highest-ranking hand, consisting of five cards in sequential order with the same suit. For example, if a player is holding the cards ace of spades, two of spades, three of spades, four of spades, and five of spades, they have a straight flush. The only hand that outranks a straight flush is a royal flush.
10. Royal Flush
In poker, the Royal Flush is the highest-ranking hand. It consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten in the same suit. The Royal Flush is a scarce hand, and it is considered to be the most powerful poker hand. It is so rare that there is only about a 1 in 650,000 chance of being dealt a Royal Flush in poker. While the odds of being dealt a Royal Flush are very low, it is still possible to improve your chances by knowing the poker hand rankings and playing strategically. If you are lucky enough to be dealt a Royal Flush in poker, know that you have been dealt the strongest hand possible and are in a great position to acquire the pot!
Conclusion
Now that you know the poker hands ranking, you can make better decisions at the table. Remember, the key to winning is always to play your best game and never give up! A great way to start memorizing is by repeatedly playing and practicing the game. Start practicing today at GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room!
