If you are playing poker then you need to be able to apply strategy to your game. To do this you properly need to look up the rankings for poker hands.
Playing poker is very enjoyable, and you can play online, live casino games, in a brick-and-mortar casino, or even video poker. Whatever type of poker you play though, understanding the rankings is key to good strategy.
Knowing how to properly play with the best poker hands is a big part of getting an edge over other players.
Online poker game is a really fun game to play, but it is also one of the most heavily strategic games to play, hence why it is so important to be aware of the rankings. How you play your rankings matters in your success.
Poker hand rankings matter, so, what are the top ten?
Highest To Lowest Rankings For Poker Hands
The most common poker-hand rankings system is the system that is the underlying constant of all forms of poker. It is used in popular types of poker such as the famous Texas Hold’em, as well as casino specific play such as 3-card or 5-card poker.
If you want to win, knowing the ranks is absolutely essential.
Royal Flush
The top ranking hand is a royal flush, it is the best hand you could hope for. A royal flush is 5 consecutive cards made up from the same suit in numerical order. It can range in anything from 10 to ace.
An example of a royal flush would be:
- 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.
Straight Flush
The next best hand you can get is a straight flush. This is made up of any 5 sequential cards in the same suit.
A straight flush can only be beaten if it faces a royal flush or another straight flush with even higher ranking cards.
An example of this would be:
- 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Four Of A Kind
Four of a kind is exactly as it sounds. It is composed of the same card appearing in all four card suits. This 5 card deck will be completed by the highest card as well as others on the table, or what is in your hand.
An example of this would be:
- Ace, Ace, Ace, Ace, 7.
- 8, 8, 8, 8, Ace.
- King, King, King, King, 5
Full House
A hand that comprises the same valued card in 3 suits, aka. 3 of a kind, as well as a separate pair of the same rank in 2 other suits is known as a full house.
If more than one player at the same has a full house then the hand with the highest value will win.
An example of this would be:
- King, King, King, 4, 4.
- Ace, Ace, Ace, 2, 2.
- 7, 7, 7, 9, 9.
Flush
Next is a flush. This is when you have 5 cards in the same suit, but they can be in any order at all. If two players have a flush at the same time, then the flush tha has the card of the highest value will be the winning player.
An example of this would be:
- 7, 5, 2, 8, Jack.
- 9,3, 6, 5, Ace.
- 10, 7, 2, 4, 9.
Straight
A straight has five cards as sequential value numerically, and is made up of more than a single suit. Aces can rank as the highest or the lowest card, but they cannot be both in one hand, so you need to choose.
An example of a straight would be:
- 10 Diamonds, 9 Hearts, 8 Spades, 7 Spades, 6 Hearts.
Three Of A Kind
3 of a kind is exactly as it sounds. It is a poker hand that is made up of 3 cards of the same rank within 3 suits. The two highest cards available as well as a three of a kind will make up a winning hand.
An example of this hand would look like:
- King diamonds, King hearts, King clubs, 9 hearts, 3 clubs.
Two Pair
Two pairs is also as it sounds. This hand is made up of two separate sets of 2 cards that have a matching rank. The highest ranking card will make up the 5th and will complete your hand.
An example of this would be:
- Ace spades, Ace hearts, 7 Spades, 7 Diamonds, 9 Clubs
One Pair
A single pair is also just what it sounds like. A pair of cards will be the same rank in many suits. The remaining cards in the hand will be made up of whatever 3 highest running cards are available.
An example of this would be:
- 5 spades, 5 hearts, queen diamonds, 3 hearts, 9 clubs.
High Card
This is the lowest handing hand you can get as a win. This hand is simply made with the highest card. This high card is the ‘best hand’. This could be A king, queen, or ace card.
You will not always get a good hand, and half of poker strategy is knowing when a poker hand is worth playing, and when it isn’t.
