Learning the poker hand ranking is a must for any player. In poker, the poker hand strength ranks from worst to best in the following order: high card, one pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush, and finally, the highest poker hand, the royal flush. Below are the specific descriptions for each hand in the poker hand hierarchy:
1. High Card
A high card is when you don’t have any other combination, but your highest card gives you a victorious hand. For example, if you have a hand of Ace-10-8-4-2 and your opponent has a hand of King-Jack-6-3-2, you would win because your Ace is higher than their King.
2. One Pair
This is when you have two cards of the same rank, such as two Kings or two Aces. If two players have a pair, the one with the highest-ranking pair wins. For example, if you have a pair of Aces and your opponent has a pair of Kings, you would win.
3. Two Pair
This is when you have two different pairs, such as a pair of Aces and a pair of Kings. If two players have two pairs, the one with the highest-ranking pair wins. For example, if you have a hand of Ace-Ace-King-King-10 and your opponent has a hand of King-King-Queen-Queen-9, then you would win because your Aces are higher than their Kings.
4. Three-of-a-Kind
This is when you have three cards of the same rank, such as three Aces or three Kings. If two players have three-of-a-kinds, then the one with the highest ranking three-of-a-kind wins. For example, if you have a hand of Ace-Ace-Ace-King-10 and your opponent has a hand of King-King-King-Jack-9, then you would win because your Aces are higher than their Kings.
5. Straight
This hand is when you have five unsuited cards in a row, such as 2-3-4-5-6 or 8-9-10-J-Q. If two players have a straight, then the one with the highest ranking card wins. For example, if you have a hand of 7-8-9-10-J and your opponent has a hand of 4-5-6-7-8, you would win because your Jack is higher than their 8.
6. Flush
This is when you have five cards of the same suit, such as all clubs or all spades. If two players have a flush, the one with the highest-ranking card wins. For example, if you have a hand of Ace-King-Queen-Jack-8 of clubs and your opponent has a hand of King-Queen-Jack-8-7 of spades, then you would win because the highest card in your flush is Ace, which is higher than King, your opponent’s highest card in theirs.
7. Full House
This is when you have three-of-a-kind and a pair, such as three Aces and two Kings. If two players have a full house, then the one with the highest ranking three-of-a-kind wins. For example, if you have a hand of Ace-Ace-Ace-King-King and your opponent has a hand of King-King-Queen-Queen-Queen, then you would win because your Aces are higher than their Queen.
8. Four-of-a-Kind
This is when you have four cards of the same rank, such as four Aces or four Kings. Suppose two players have four of a kind, the one with the highest ranking four-of-a-kind wins. For example, if you have a hand of Ace-Ace-Ace-Ace-King and your opponent has a hand of King-King-King-King-Queen, then you would win because your Aces are higher than their Kings.
9. Straight Flush
This is when you have five cards of the same suit in a row, such as 5-6-7-8-9 of clubs or 9-10-J-Q-K of spades. If two players have a straight flush, the one with the highest-ranking card wins. For example, if you have a hand of 9-10-J-Q-K of clubs and your opponent has a hand of 8-9-10-J-Q of spades, then you would win because the value of your highest club card is higher than their spades.
10. Royal Flush
This is when you have the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit, such as clubs or spades. If two players have a royal flush, then they would both win. For example, if you have a hand of Ace-King-Queen-Jack-10 of clubs and your opponent has a hand of Ace-King-Queen-Jack-10 of spades, then both players would split the pot.
Conclusion
Poker is a game of strategy, and it’s critical to remember that there is a lot of skill involved in knowing which cards to keep and which to discard. Knowing the poker card rankings is an inevitable part of playing the game, and it’s essential to understand the hierarchy of hands before you get started. The better you know the rankings, the more success you’ll have at the poker table!
There are many ways to help you remember the poker hands in order, and it’s crucial to find a method that works for you. One way is to memorize them by creating mnemonic devices, such as using the first letter of each word in a phrase to help you remember the order. Another way is to create a visual representation, such as a chart or diagram, or even write them out repeatedly until you have them memorized. Another practical way is when you play online poker to have the poker rankings displayed on the screen so you can reference them as needed. No matter your chosen method, just make sure you take the time to learn the rankings inside and out! If you want to start memorizing the poker hand hierarchy and other poker-related things, such as how to play Texas Holdem, how to bluff, and other poker skills, try playing at the world’s largest poker room today. Sign up at GGPoker!