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Poker hand rankings are essential for any player looking to master the game. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, knowing the strength of each hand can be the difference between winning and losing. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of poker hands ranked from highest to lowest in terms of strength. Each hand is explained with an example, so you can quickly learn what to look for in your own hands. For an even faster reference, be sure to check out our Printable Cheat Sheet or What Beats What Table.
The highest-ranking hand in poker is the Royal Flush. This hand is often considered the ultimate in poker, consisting of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 cards, all of the same suit. There are only four possible ways to achieve a Royal Flush in a standard deck of cards, and all of them are equally powerful. For example, if you hold the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of spades, you have a Royal Flush, which will beat all other hands.
The next strongest hand is the Straight Flush, which consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit. Unlike a Royal Flush, a Straight Flush can start from any card, as long as they are in sequence. For instance, a hand containing 7, 8, 9, 10, and Jack of hearts is a Straight Flush. However, note that if two players have a Straight Flush, the hand with the highest top card wins.
Following the Straight Flush is the Four of a Kind, which is made up of four cards of the same rank, plus a fifth card (known as the “kicker”) to break ties. An example would be four 10s, such as 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 10♣, along with a kicker like a 3♠. The player with the higher kicker wins if another player also has Four of a Kind.
Next, we have the Full House, a hand consisting of three cards of the same rank (a “set”) and two cards of another rank (a “pair”). For example, a hand like 8♠ 8♣ 8♦ 3♠ 3♣ would be a Full House, with three 8s and two 3s. If two players have a Full House, the one with the higher three-of-a-kind wins.
Flush follows, which occurs when you have five cards of the same suit, but they are not in sequence. For example, 2♠ 5♠ 9♠ J♠ Q♠ would be a Flush. If multiple players have a Flush, the player with the highest card in their Flush wins.
The Straight hand consists of five consecutive cards of any suit. An example would be 4♠ 5♦ 6♠ 7♥ 8♣. If two players have a Straight, the hand with the highest top card wins.
Next on the list is Three of a Kind, which is made up of three cards of the same rank. For example, 7♦ 7♠ 7♣ K♠ 2♠ is a Three of a Kind, with three 7s. In case of a tie, the kicker cards (the two remaining cards) will decide the winner.
Two Pair is made up of two different pairs of cards. For example, 5♠ 5♦ 10♠ 10♣ 2♥ would be Two Pair, with the pairs being 5s and 10s. If two players have Two Pair, the highest pair wins, and if those are the same, the second pair will be compared.
The second-lowest ranking hand is One Pair, which is made up of two cards of the same rank. For example, 8♠ 8♣ K♠ Q♦ 3♠ would be a One Pair hand, with the pair being 8s. If two players both have One Pair, the highest kicker card wins.
Finally, the lowest ranking hand is High Card, which occurs when none of your cards form any of the above combinations. If your best hand is just a high card, you compare the highest cards in your hand to those of your opponents. For example, if your hand is 9♠ 7♣ 4♠ 3♦ 2♥, the highest card is the 9♠. If your opponent’s highest card is a 10, they win.
In conclusion, understanding poker hand rankings is fundamental to improving your poker game. By memorizing the hands listed above and their relative strengths, you’ll be better prepared to make the right decisions at the table. Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em or other variations, knowing what beats what is crucial to becoming a successful poker player. For a quick reference, keep a cheat sheet on hand during your games to help you remember the rankings and improve your gameplay.
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