Poker Hands

When you play poker it is important to know all the different hands that are available to you and which of them scores highest, you can go through a poker school to learn the more advanced features however if you want to know the basics that will get you playing in poker touraments read on. Here we've detailed all the different hands available in a game in order from highest ranking downwards.

Because there are variations depending on where you are playing, and what version of poker you are playing, it is important for you to look on any site where you play to check that they don't have any additional rules for example in some casinos if two players both have a straight flush running from 9 down to 5 and this is the strongest hand in the game then they will split the pot equally, in other casinos a distinction is made between the suits with one suit being deemed as higher ranking than another, so that the player with the higher suit will win the pot.

Royal Flush

A straight run of five cards from Ace down to 10 with all five being of the same suit. This is the highest ranked hand it is possible to get and the least common.

Straight Flush

Any straight run of five cards in a row where all the cards are of the same suit. As a general rule Ace can count as high or low in a straight flush, but this is best checked with the casino you are playing at.

Four of a Kind

Any four cards of the same rank.

Full House

Any three cards of the same rank together with any two card of the same rank. Aces over Kings would be higher ranked than Kings over Aces if two players both had a full house to end.

Flush

Any five cards that are all of the same suit. They do not have to be consecutive. The highest card in the flush determines the rank of the flush. So if you are Ace high that is better than being 10 high.

Straight

Any five cards in a consecutive run regardless of their suit. As a general rule the Ace can count as high or low in a straight, but this is best checked with the casino you are playing at as some casinos may have different rules.

Three of a Kind

Any three card of the same rank, so three kings, three tens etc. Kings would obviously be higher than 10s.

Two Pair

Any two cards of the same rank together with any other two cards of the same rank. The higher the rank of the cards the better, so for example a pair of Aces and Kings would beat a pair of Aces and Queens.

One Pair

Any two cards of the same rank. The higher the rank of the cards the better, so a pair of Queens would beat a pair of nines.

Highest Card

Any hand that doesn't contain any of the above mentioned groupings will be counted as 'highest card' this means that the highest ranked card that is held in the hand is counted. So a hand which is King high would score over one which is eight high.

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