If you are new playing poker, you may wish to bookmark this page to
remember the ranking of poker hands. Also, you may wish to visit
our glossary of poker terms and definitions.
Straight Flush: A sequence
of all five cards of the same suit (spades ♠, hearts
♥, diamonds ♦, clubs ♣).
The best possible straight flush is known as a
Royal Flush. Aces can count as either a high card (Royal Flush A-K-Q-J-T) or a low
card (Steel Wheel 5-4-3-2-A).
In the event of a tie, the highest card of the
sequence wins. For instance, the sequence 8-7-6-5-4 wins
over 5-4-3-2-A. The pot is split when suits have the same
ranks, such as J♠ T♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ and
J♥ T♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♥, however this
scenario cannot happen at Texas Hold'em. |
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Four of a Kind: Four cards
of the same rank.
If two players share the same Four of a Kind,
the bigger fifth card (known as the kicker)
decides who wins the pot. This scenario may occur only if
multiple decks of cards are used in the game. |
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Full House: Three cards of the same
rank and a pair of a different rank.
Our example shows "Twos full of Jacks."
In the event of a tie,
the highest three matching cards wins the pot. If players
have the same three matching cards, the highest pair wins.
Example: 3-3-3-4-4 beats
2-2-2-A-A because 3
is higher than 2. |
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Flush: Five cards of the same suit
which are not consecutive. Our example shows an Ace-high
flush, which is the highest possible.
In the event of a tie, the player holding the highest ranked
card wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest,
fourth-highest, and fifth-highest cards can be used to break the
tie. If all five cards are the same ranks, the pot is split. The
suit itself is never used to break a tie in poker.
Likewise, the summing the card ranks is never
used to deterrmine the winner. For
instance, the flush A♠ K♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠
beats A♣ Q♣ J♣ T♣ 9♣ despite having a
lower total (36=14+13+4+3+2 and 56=14+12+11+10+9). |
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Straight: Any five
consecutive cards of different suits.
Aces can count as
either a high or a low card. Our example shows a five-high
straight, which is the lowest possible straight, also known as a Wheel.
In the event of a tie, the highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins.
Example: 6-5-4-3-2 beats
5-4-3-2-A, because the ace must be low
to make the straight, and therefore the highest rancard is
6. |
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Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side
cards. Our example shows three-of-a-kind Aces, with a King and a Queen
as side cards - the best possible three of a kind.
The highest ranking three of a kind wins, and in the event
of a tie, the highest side card, and if
necessary, the second-highest side card wins. |
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Two Pair: Any two cards of the
same rank together with another two cards of the same rank. Our
example shows the best possible two-pair, Aces and Kings.
If players have the same highest pair, highest second
pair wins. If both players have two identical pairs, highest side card
wins.
Example: 8-8-3-3-2 beats
8-8-2-2-K because the higher-ranking
pairs are equal, and the 3's beat the 2's. |
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One Pair: Any two cards of the
same rank, and three unrelated side cards. Our example shows the
best possible one-pair hand.
If players have the same pair, the highest side card
wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest side card
can be used to break the tie. |
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High Card: Any hand not in the
above-mentioned hands. Our example shows the best possible high-card hand.
The highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest,
fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie. Again,
summing the ranks is never used. Although
A-K-4-3-2 has a lower sum than
A-Q-J-T-9, the King wins
over the Queen. |
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A poker hand always consists of five cards. Even though in some
variants you may have more than five cards to choose from, you select
the five cards that make the best hand, and for the purpose of comparing
hands any other cards are irrelevant.
When playing Texas Hold'em, each player has two private cards and
there are five face up shared. Say you have a King and a Ten and
the table shows 3 Aces and Two Kings. Since no player has a Straight Flush
or Four of a Kind, and only 5 cards may
be selected, the Full House
A-A-A-K-K from the table makes everyone a
winner (the pot is split among the player). Your King which could
have made the hypotheticalhand A-A-A-K-K-K is
excluded from your hand. Likewise, say the table shows
A-K-Q-Q-T, then the best hand is
K-K-Q-Q-A, despite you having a pair of Ten
(one Ten from your private cards and one Ten from the cards on the
table).