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Hands
and Rankings
One of the most important things you will have to
know if you want to play good poker is the ranking of hands. The object
of all poker games is to get the highest five card hand you can. Even
when you play a version of poker with seven cards you only get to use
five, so that is what you’re looking for. For individual cards the aces
are the highest, followed by kings, queens, jacks, tens, and down the
numbers. Most games also allow the ace to act as low to make an A-5
straight.
In normal games the hand ranks will go as follows:
1) Straight Flush. A straight flush is any
five cards in a row of the same suit. A Royal Flush is the highest
straight flush, with a T, J, Q, K, and A of the same suit.
Traditionally in a normal game if a player hits the royal flush, he or
she gets to keep the deck of cards as a souvenir and a new deck is
brought out for use. You may have to request this specifically in a
casino—but don’t be shy! That is an amazingly rare hand.
2. Four of a Kind. Just as it sounds: four of the same card.
The higher the cards, the better the hand. For example: four kings
beats four eights.
4. Full House. A set plus a pair. AAA88 would be an example.
The higher full house is whoever has the higher set. For example: KKK22
beats 555AA.
5. Flush. A flush is made up of any five cards of the same suit.
Five hearts, clubs, diamonds, or spades is a flush. If there is more
than one flush, count from each person’s high card down. An A9562
flush, for example, beats a KQT62 flush. In the rare event that both
five card flushes are exactly the same, the pot is split, with one half
to each player.
6. Straight. Five cards in a consecutive order, composed of
different suits. For example, 98765 or 5432A. An ace can work before a
two or past a king, but it can not connect them. 2AKQJ, for example, is
not a straight.
7. Three of a Kind. Three cards of the same rank, like lucky
777. As always, a higher ranked three of a kind defeats a lower ranked
three of a kind. In flop games like Texas Hold ‘Em it’s possible for
both players to have the same three of a kind, in which case the two
"kicker" cards would break the tie. JJJ92 would defeat JJJ87.
8. Two Pair. Just like it sounds. Two of the same card along
with two of a different card. Between two pair the highest pair wins.
So AA223 will beat KKQQ7.
9. One Pair. Two of the same cards. Aces are the highest pair,
2s are the weakest. The kicker breaks any ties.
10. No Pair, High Card. A hand with no pair or anything else.
When comparing no pair hands, the highest card determines the winner,
using each card in order if necessary, so AKQ96 defeats AKQ95.
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