Rules of Card Games: Poker Hand Ranking Hand probabilities and multiple decks - probability tables Standard Poker Hand Ranking There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the individual cards, from high to low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. In standard poker - that is to say in the formal casino and tournament game played internationally and the home game as normally played in North America - there is no ranking between the suits for the purpose of comparing hands - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal. (Note however that suit ranking is sometimes used for other purposes such as allocating seats, deciding who bets first, and allocating the odd chip when splitting a pot that can't be equally divided. See ranking of suits for details.) A poker hand consists of five cards. The categories of hand, from highest to lowest, are listed below. Any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category (so for example any three of a kind beats any two pairs). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better, as described in more detail below.

In games where a player has more than five cards and selects five to form a poker hand, the remaining cards do not play any part in the ranking. Poker ranks are always based on five cards only, and if these cards are equal the hands are equal, irrespective of the ranks of any unused cards. Some readers may wonder why one would ever need to compare (say) two threes of a kind of equal rank. This obviously cannot arise in basic draw poker, but such comparisons are needed in poker games using shared (community) cards, such as Texas Hold'em, in poker games with wild cards, and in other card games using poker combinations. 1. Straight Flush If there are no wild cards, this is the highest type of poker hand: five cards of the same suit in sequence - such as J- 9- 8- 7. Between two straight flushes, the one containing the higher top card is higher. An ace can be counted as low, so 5- 3- 2- A is a straight flush, but its top card is the five, not the ace, so it is the lowest type of straight flush.

The highest type of straight flush, A-K-Q-J-10 of a suit, is known as a Royal Flush. The cards in a straight flush cannot "turn the corner": 4- K is not valid. 2. Four of a kind Four cards of the same rank - such as four queens. The fifth card, known as the kicker, can be anything. This combination is sometimes known as "quads", and in some parts of Europe it is called a "poker", though this term for it is unknown in English. Between two fours of a kind, the one with the higher set of four cards is higher - so 3-3-3-3-A is beaten by 4-4-4-4-2. If two or more players have four of a kind of the same rank, the rank of the kicker decides. For example in Texas Hold'em with J- J- J- 9 on the table (available to all players), a player holding K-7 beats a player holding Q-10 since the king beats the queen. If one player holds 8-2 and another holds 6-5 they split the pot, since the 9 kicker makes the best hand for both of them.

If one player holds A- K they also split the pot because both have an ace kicker. 3. Full House This combination, sometimes known as a boat, consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank - for example three sevens and two tens (colloquially known as "sevens full of tens" or "sevens on tens"). When comparing full houses, the rank of the three cards determines which is higher. For example 9-9-9-4-4 beats 8-8-8-A-A. If the threes of a kind are equal, the rank of the pairs decides. 4. Flush Five cards of the same suit. When comparing two flushes, the highest card determines which is higher. If the highest cards are equal then the second highest card is compared; if those are equal too, then the third highest card, and so on. For example K- 7- 6- 5 because the nine beats the seven. If all five cards are equal, the flushes are equal. 5. Straight Five cards of mixed suits in sequence - for example Q- 10- 9- 8.

When comparing two sequences, the one with the higher ranking top card is better. Ace can count high or low in a straight, but not both at once, so A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A are valid straights, but 2-A-K-Q-J is not. 5-4-3-2-A, known as a wheel, is the lowest kind of straight, the top card being the five. 6. Three of a Kind Three cards of the same rank plus two unequal cards. This combination is also known as Triplets or Trips. When comparing two threes of a kind the rank of the three equal cards determines which is higher. If the sets of three are of equal rank, then the higher of the two remaining cards in each hand are compared, and if those are equal, the lower odd card is compared. So for example 5-5-5-3-2 beats 4-4-4-K-5, which beats 4-4-4-Q-9, which beats 4-4-4-Q-8. 7. Two Pairs A pair consists of two cards of equal rank.

In a hand with two pairs, the two pairs are of different ranks (otherwise you would have four of a kind), and there is an odd card to make the hand up to five cards. When comparing hands with two pairs, the hand with the highest pair wins, irrespective of the rank of the other cards - so J-J-2-2-4 beats 10-10-9-9-8 because the jacks beat the tens. If the higher pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared, so that for example 8-8-6-6-3 beats 8-8-5-5-K. Finally, if both pairs are the same, the odd cards are compared, so Q-Q-5-5-8 beats Q-Q-5-5-4. 8. Pair A hand with two cards of equal rank and three cards which are different from these and from each other. When comparing two such hands, the hand with the higher pair is better - so for example 6-6-4-3-2 beats 5-5-A-K-Q.

If the pairs are equal, compare the highest ranking odd cards from each hand; if these are equal compare the second highest odd card, and if these are equal too compare the lowest odd cards. So J-J-A-9-3 beats J-J-A-8-7 because the 9 beats the 8. 9. Nothing Five cards which do not form any of the combinations listed above. This combination is often called High Card and sometimes No Pair. T cards must all be of different ranks, not consecutive, and contain at least two different suits. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better highest card wins. If the highest cards are equal the second cards are compared; if they are equal too the third cards are compared, and so on. So A-J-9-5-3 beats A-10-9-6-4 because the jack beats the ten. Hand Ranking in Low Poker There are several poker variations in which the lowest hand wins: these are sometimes known as Lowball. There are also "high-low" variants in which the pot is split between the highest and the lowest hand.

A low hand with no combination is normally described by naming its highest card - for example 8-6-5-4-2 would be described as "8-down" or "8-low". It first sight it might be assumed that in low poker the hands rank in the reverse order to their ranking in normal (high) poker, but this is not quite the case. There are several different ways to rank low hands, depending on how aces are treated and whether straights and flushes are counted. Ace to Five This seems to be the most popular system. Straights and flushes do not count, and Aces are always low. The best hand is therefore 5-4-3-2-A, even if the cards are all in one suit. Then comes 6-4-3-2-A, 6-5-3-2-A, 6-5-4-2-A, 6-5-4-3-A, 6-5-4-3-2, 7-4-3-2-A and so on. Note that when comparing hands, the highest card is compared first, just as in standard poker.

So for example 6-5-4-3-2 is better than 7-4-3-2-A because the 6 is lower than the 7. The best hand containing a pair is A-A-4-3-2. This version is sometimes called "California Lowball". When this form of low poker is played as part of a high-low split variant, there is sometimes a condition that a hand must be "eight or better" to qualify to win the low part of the pot. In this case a hand must consist of five unequal cards, all 8 or lower, to qualify for low. The worst such hand is 8-7-6-5-4. Deuce to Seven The hands rank in almost the same order as in standard poker, with straights and flushes counting and the lowest hand wins. The difference from normal poker is that Aces are always high , so that A-2-3-4-5 is not a straight, but ranks between K-Q-J-10-8 and A-6-4-3-2. The best hand in this form is 7-5-4-3-2 in mixed suits, hence the name "deuce to seven".

The next best is 7-6-4-3-2, then 7-6-5-3-2, 7-6-5-4-2, 8-5-4-3-2, 8-6-4-3-2, 8-6-5-3-2, 8-6-5-4-2, 8-6-5-4-3, 8-7-4-3-2, etc. The highest card is always compared first, so for example 8-6-5-4-3 is better than 8-7-4-3-2 even though the latter contains a 2, because the 6 is lower than the 7. The best hand containing a pair is 2-2-5-4-3, but this would be beaten by A-K-Q-J-9 - the worst "high card" hand. This version is sometimes called "Kansas City Lowball". Ace to Six Many home poker players play that straights and flushes count, but that aces can be counted as low.

In this version 5-4-3-2-A is a bad hand because it is a straight, so the best low hand is 6-4-3-2-A. There are a couple of issues around the treatment of aces in this variant. First, what about A-K-Q-J-10? Since aces are low, this should not count as a straight. It is a king-down, and is lower and therefore better than K-Q-J-10-2. Second, a pair of aces is the lowest and therefore the best pair, beating a pair of twos. It is likely that some players would disagree with both the above rulings, preferring to count A-K-Q-J-10 as a straight and in some cases considering A-A to be the highest pair rather than the lowest. It would be wise to check that you agree on these details before playing ace-to-six low poker with unfamiliar opponents. Selecting from more than five cards Note that in games where more than five cards are available, the player is free to select whichever cards make the lowest hand.

For example a player in Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better whose cards are 10-8-6-6-3-2-A can omit the 10 and one of the 6's to create a qualifying hand for low. Poker Hand Ranking with Wild Cards A wild card card that can be used to substitute for a card that the holder needs to make up a hand. In some variants one or more jokers are added to the pack to act as wild cards. In others, one or more cards of the 52-card pack may be designated as wild - for example all the twos ("deuces wild") or the jacks of hearts and spades ("one-eyed jacks wild", since these are the only two jacks shown in profile in Anglo-American decks). The most usual rule is that a wild card can be used either to represent any card not already present in the hand, or to make the special combination of "five of a kind". This approach is not entirely consistent, since five of a kind - five cards of equal rank - must necessarily include one duplicate card, since there are only four suits. The only practical effect of the rule against duplicates is to prevent the formation of a "double ace flush".

So for example in the hand A- 3, the 10 beating the 9. Five of a Kind When playing with wild cards, five of a kind becomes the highest type of hand, beating a royal flush. Between fives of a kind, the higher beats the lower, five aces being highest of all. The Bug Some games, especially five card draw , are often played with a bug. This is a joker added to the pack which acts as a limited wild card. It can either be used as an ace, or to complete a straight or a flush. Thus the highest hand is five aces ( A- A- A- A-joker), but other fives of a kind are impossible - for example 6-6-6-6-joker would count as four sixes with an ace kicker and a straight flush would beat this hand. Also a hand like 8-8-5-5-joker counts as two pairs with the joker representing an ace, not as a full house. Wild Cards in Low Poker In Low Poker, a wild card can be used to represent a card of a rank not already present in the player's hand. It is then sometimes known as a "fitter".

For example 6-5-4-2-joker would count as a pair of sixes in normal poker with the joker wild, but in ace-to-five low poker the joker could be used as an ace, and in deuce-to-seven low poker it could be used as a seven to complete a low hand. Lowest Card Wild Some home poker variants are played with the player's lowest card (or lowest concealed card) wild. In this case the rule applies to the lowest ranked card held at the time of the showdown, using the normal order ace (high) to two (low). Aces cannot be counted as low to make them wild. Double Ace Flush Some people play with the house rule that a wild card can represent any card, including a duplicate of a card already held. It then becomes possible to have a flush containing two or more aces. Flushes with more than one ace are not allowed unless specifically agreed as a house rule. Natural versus Wild Some play with the house rule that a natural hand beats an equal hand in which one or more of the cards are represented by wild cards. This can be extended to specify that a hand with more wild cards beats an otherwise equal hand with fewer wild cards.

This must be agreed in advance: in the absence of any agreement, wild cards are as good as the natural cards they represent. Incomplete Hands In some poker variants, such as No Peek , it is necessary to compare hands that have fewer than five cards. With fewer than five cards, you cannot have a straight, flush or full house. You can make a four of a kind or two pairs with only four cards, triplets with three cards, a pair with two cards and a "high card" hand with just one card. The process of comparing first the combination and then the kickers in descending order is the same as when comparing five-card hands. In hands with unequal numbers of cards any kicker that is present in the hand beats a missing kicker. So for example 8-8-K beats 8-8-6-2 because the king beats the 6, but 8-8-6-2 beats 8-8-6 because a 2 is better than a missing fourth card. Similarly a 10 by itself beats 9-5, which beats 9-3-2, which beats 9-3, which beats a 9 by itself.

Ranking of suits In standard poker there is no ranking of suits for the purpose of comparing hands. If two hands are identical apart from the suits of the cards then they count as equal. In standard poker, if there are two highest equal hands in a showdown, the pot is split between them. Standard poker rules do, however, specify a hierarchy of suits: spades (highest), hearts, diamonds, clubs (lowest) (as in Contract Bridge ), which is used to break ties for special purposes such as: drawing cards to allocate players to seats or tables; deciding who bets first in stud poker according to the highest or lowest upcard; allocating a chip that is left over when a pot cannot be shared exactly between two or more players. I have, however, heard from several home poker players who play by house rules that use this same ranking of suits to break ties between otherwise equal hands. For some reason, players most often think of this as a way to break ties between royal flushes, which would be most relevant in a game with many wild cards, where such hands might become commonplace. However, if you want to introduce a suit ranking it is important also to agree how it will apply to other, lower types of hand.

If one player A has 8- 7- 6- 2 ? So far as I know there is no universally accepted answer to these questions: this is non-standard poker, and your house rules are whatever you agree that they are. Three different rules that I have come across, when hands are equal apart from suit are: Compare the suit of the highest card in the hand. Compare the suit of the highest paired card - for example if two people have J-J-7-7-K the highest jack wins. Compare the suit of the highest unpaired card - for example if two people have K-K-7-5-4 compare the 7's. Although the order spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs may seem natural to Bridge players and English speakers, other suit orders are common, especially in some European countries.

Up to now, I have come across: spades (high), hearts, clubs, diamonds (low) spades (high), diamonds, clubs, hearts (low) hearts (high), spades, diamonds, clubs (low) (in Greece and in Turkey) hearts (high), diamonds, spades, clubs (low) (in Austria and in Sweden) hearts (high), diamonds, clubs, spades (low) (in Italy) diamonds (high), spades, hearts, clubs (low) (in Brazil) diamonds (high), hearts, spades, clubs (low) (in Brazil) clubs (high), spades, hearts, diamonds (low) (in Germany) As with all house rules, it would be wise to make sure you have a common understanding before starting to play, especially when the group contains people with whom you have not played before. Stripped Decks In some places, especially in continental Europe, poker is sometimes played with a deck of less than 52 cards, the low cards being omitted. Italian Poker is an example. As the pack is reduced, a Flush becomes more difficult to make, and for this reason a Flush is sometimes ranked above a Full House in such games.

In a stripped deck game, the ace is considered to be adjacent to the lowest card present in the deck, so for example when using a 36-card deck with 6's low, A-6-7-8-9 is a low straight. Playing poker with fewer than 52 cards is not a new idea. In the first half of the 19th century, the earliest form of poker was played with just 20 cards - the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of each suit - with five cards dealt to each of four players. The only hand types recognised were, in descending order, four of a kind, full house, three of a kind, two pairs, one pair, no pair. No Unbeatable Hand In standard poker a Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit) cannot be beaten. Even if you introduce suit ranking, the Royal Flush in the highest suit is unbeatable. In some regions, it is considered unsatisfactory to have any hand that is guaranteed to be unbeaten - there should always be a risk. There are several solutions to this.

In Italy this is achieved by the rule "La minima batte la massima, la massima batte la media e la media batte la minima" ("the minimum beats the maximum, the maximum beats the medium and the medium beats the minimum"). A minimum straight flush is the lowest that can be made with the deck in use. Normally they play with a stripped deck so for example with 40 cards the minimum straight flush would be A-5-6-7-8 of a suit. A maximum straight flush is 10-J-Q-K-A of a suit. All other straight flushes are medium. If two players have medium straight flushes then the one with higher ranked cards wins as usual. Also as usual a maximum straight flush beats a medium one, and a medium straight flush beats a minimum one. But if a minimum straight flush comes up against a maximum straight flush, the minimum beats the maximum. In the very rare case where three players hold a straight flush, one minimum, one medium and one maximum, the pot is split between them. See for example Italian Poker .

In Greece, where hearts is the highest suit, A- Q- J- 10 is called an Imperial Flush, and it is beaten only by four of a kind of the lowest rank in the deck - for example 6-6-6-6 if playing with 36 cards. Again, in very rare cases there could also be a hand in the showdown that beats the four of a kind but is lower than the Imperial Flush, in which case the pot would be split. Hand probabilities and multiple decks The ranking order of poker hands corresponds to their probability of occurring in straight poker, where five cards are dealt from a 52-card deck, with no wild cards and no opportunity to use extra cards to improve a hand. The rarer a hand the higher it ranks. This is neither an essential nor an original feature of poker, and it ceases to be true when wild cards are introduced. In fact, with a large number of wild cards, it is almost inevitable that the higher hand types will be the commoner, not rarer, since wild cards will be used to help make the most valuable type of hand from the available cards.

Mark Brader has provided probability tables showing the frequency of each poker hand type when five cards are dealt from a 52-card deck, and also showing how these probabilities would change if multiple decks were used. Poker Hands (What Beats What) - Casino Gambling Casino Gambling Poker Hands - What Beats What akirbs Getty By Al Moe Updated December 01, 2016. The game of poker is very popular all over the world. You’ll want to learn how to play poker in the future, but for right now, here are the standard hand rankings for poker games played with a standard English deck of 52 cards (no jokers or wild cards ). These five-card hands are listed from the best to the worst. Royal Flush A royal flush is the highest straight of cards, all in one suit: 10-J-Q-K-A. This hand is very tough to make. Being dealt this hand in five-card stud poker will happen about once in every 649,000 hands. In five card draw (or video poker), it will happen about once in every 40,000 hands. Straight Flush A straight flush consists of a straight, all in one suit.

The lowest straight flush is A-2-3-4-5. Players usually consider the highest straight flush to be 9-10-J-Q-K, although technically, a royal flush is still a straight flush also – and is the highest. Four of a Kind Four of a kind is a hand that contains four of the same card, such as four sevens or four Jacks. continue reading below our video What Beats What in Poker? Because twos (deuces) are rated the lowest and aces the highest in poker, four aces ​is the highest four of a kind. When two or more players have four of a kind, the highest four of a kind wins. So, four deuces can’t beat any other four of a kind, and four aces can’t be beaten by any other four of a kind. Full House A full house is a pair and three of a kind. When two or more players hold full houses it is the three of a kind that will determine the winner. So, aces-full (three aces with any pair) beats any other full house, and deuces-full can not beat any other full house.

In a community card game such as Texas Hold’em, two players may hold a hand such as three deuces, in this case, the higher pair will determine the winning hand. Flush A flush is any five cards of the same suit. An ace-high flush is higher (and beats) a king-high flush, regardless of the other cards in each hand. When two or more players hold a flush, the hands are compared card-to-card until one hand wins (the highest next card wins, such as when A-7-6-3-2 beats A-7-5-4-3). Two flush hands that are all the same (such as K-J-9-4-3 in hearts against K-J-9-4-3 in clubs) results in a tie. No suit trumps another suit in poker. Straight A straight is five cards that all connect – five cards in a row, such as 7-6-5-4-3.

When two or more players hold a straight, the hand with the highest starting card wins, thus a Jack-high straight (J-10-9-8-7) beats a five-high straight (5-4-3-2-A) even though the five-high contains an ace. Three of a Kind Three of a kind is any hand that holds three of the same cards (except one that has three of a kind and a pair, which is a full-house), such as 2-3-7-7-7 (a set of sevens). When two or more players hold three of a kind, the highest set (aces are highest, deuces lowest) wins. In a community card game such as Texas Hold’em, two players may hold the same three of a kind. In this case, the highest fourth card in the hand will decide the winner. If both of these cards are the same (such as A-A-A-9-5 against A-A-A-9-4), the higher fifth card will determine the winner. Two Pair Two pair is a hand that contains a single card and two pairs of cards, such as 2-8-8-Q-Q.

When two or more players hold two-pair hands, the hand with the highest pair wins, such as 2-8-8-Q-Q beating 3-7-7-9-9. When one of the pairs is the same, such as K-K-7-7-4 against K-K-5-5-A, the deciding factor is the next pair. In this case, the sevens beat the fives. When both the pairs match, such as 6-6-4-4-3 against 6-6-4-4-2, the single card will determine the winner. In this case the 6-6-4-4-3 hand wins because the three is higher than the deuce. One Pair One pair is a hand with three mixed cards and a single pair. When two or more players hold one-pair hands, the highest pair wins. When two players hold the same pair, such as A-A-7-4-3 and A-A-7-4-2, the winning hand is the one with the next highest card. In this instance, the sevens also match as do the fours, but the player with the three beats the player with the deuce.

High Card A high card hand is one with nothing that matches, no straight, and no flush. When two or more players hold high-card hands, the highest card wins. When the highest card (or subsequent cards) match, the final highest card wins, such as when A-K-7-6-5 beats A-K-6-4-2. These hands do not reflect wild-card games. In games with wild cards, a five of a kind beats a royal flush. If you want to give poker a try, you should consider playing some free online poker games first. Poker Hands l Official Poker Hand Ranking from Best to Worst Any hand not in the above-mentioned hands. Our example shows the best possible high-card hand. Poker Hand Rankings Explained Poker Hand Rankings FAQ Does a straight beat a flush? No. This is one of the most common misconceptions in poker. In reality a flush (five cards of the same suit) always beats a straight (five cards in a numeric sequence). A straight-flush, which is five cards of the same suit in consecutive order, beats both hands. What’s better -- Two-Pair or Three-of-a-Kind? Three-of-a-kind always beats two-pair.

The only “made” poker hand that two-pair beats is one pair. Does “All Reds” or “All Blacks” beat a straight? “All Reds” or “All Blacks” doesn’t beat/mean anything in poker. To make a flush in poker you have to have five cards of the same SUIT. That means five spades, hearts, clubs or diamonds. Having all one color is not a poker hand. Does it matter if I have higher flush cards? It does. In No-Limit Hold’em if you have a flush with an ace as the highest card and your opponent has a flush with a king as the high card, you win. The easiest way to understand who wins is to lay out your complete five-card hand and compare it with your opponent’s hand. If anyone has a higher card, that person wins (obviously you both share the cards on the board). Which suit is ranked the highest? In poker, suits don’t count. Spades aren’t better than hearts, clubs aren’t higher than diamonds, etc. If you have the same hand as your opponent but in different suits then you simply split the pot. This misconception is from other games where suits do matter.

What do I beat if I have 3 Pairs? Absolutely nothing. You just use your two highest pairs. There is no such thing as “3-pair” in poker. Is there a difference between Trips and a Set? Which is better? Trips and a set are the same hand: Three-of-a-kind. The difference is how you acquire three-of-a-kind. A set is made when your pocket pair hits one card on the board. Trips are made when you utilize two cards on the board and one in your hand to make three-of-a-kind. Because they are much easier to conceal when betting, sets are generally considered the better hand. What if there’s a straight on the board? You chop the pot. That’s provided that no player has a better hand (flush or higher) or someone has a higher straight using the cards in their hand. What’s a Four-Flush? A four-flush is when you use four cards of the same suit on the board and one from your hand to complete a flush. It’s worth noting this is one of the key differences between No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha.

In PLO you have to use two of your cards so you can’t have a four-flush. What if I have the same pair as my opponent? Once again you chop the pot. Pocket aces versus pocket aces generally means you have a split pot (unless someone is fortunate enough to hit a four-flush on the board). Can you make a Straight with 4-3-2-A-K? No. While the ace can make both the lowest straight (A-2-3-4-5) and the highest straight (A-K-Q-J-10) it can’t wrap around. Does my 3-3-3-A-A Full House beat my opponent’s 8-8-8-K-K? Nope. When it comes to full houses the highest of the three-of-a-kinds determines the winner. In the example above the full house with three 8s tops the full house with three 3s. Who wins with Four-of-a-Kind on the board? The player with the highest kicker. For instance if the board is 8-8-8-8-5, you have A-K and your opponent has K-Q, you win.

(Your best five-card hand is 8-8-8-8-A, his is 8-8-8-8-K). If the board was 8-8-8-8-A you’d split the pot as the best five-card hand for both of you is 8-8-8-8-A. What’s the difference Between Four-of-a-Kind and “Quads”? Nothing. They’re exactly the same hand. Poker hand ranking chart - what beats what? What beats what in Poker? Poker Hand Rank #1 - Royal Flush The highest of all Poker hands, a Royal Flush is 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit: Poker Hand Rank #2 - Straight Flush A Straight Flush is five cards in consecutive numerical order, all of the same suit. If there are two Straight Flushes at the same table, the one which runs to the highest value card wins. Poker Hand Rank #3 - Four of a kind Four of a kind means four cards of the same value and any other card. If there are two hands with Four of a kind in the same game, the highest ranking Four of a kind wins ie four Ks beats four 9s.

Poker Hand Rank #4 - Full house A Full House is three cards of the same value and another two cards that form a pair (same value). If two players have a Full House (with the joker), the rank is decided first by the Three of a kind, then by the pair. Poker Hand Rank #5 - Flush A Flush is five non-consecutive cards of the same suit. The Flush is named after the highest card, so the example below is a Jack Flush. If two players have the same Flush, the rank is decided by the second highest card. In the unlikely event of the first two cards in two Flushes being the same, the rank is decided by the third card, then the fourth, then the fifth. Poker Hand Rank #6 - Straight A Straight is five consecutive cards, but not of the same suit. As with the Straight Flush, in the event of a tie, the winner is the flush which runs to the highest value card.

A 'Straight to' means the highest card in the run, so 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 is a 'Straight to 9' Poker Hand Rank #7 - Three of a kind Three cards of the same value, and two supporting cards that are not a pair: Poker Hand Rank #8 - Two pair Two sets of pairs, and another random card. In the unlikely event of two players having the same two pairs, the highest supporting card is used to determine the winner. Poker Hand Rank #9 - Pair Two cards of the same value and three random supporting cards. If two players have a pair, the highest pair wins. In the event of a tie, the highest supporting cards determine the winner. Poker Hand Rank #10 - High card A hand with none of the above rankings. The hand is named after the highest card, 7 high being the lowest, Ace high the highest. The example below is therefore a King high. Online casino games guide A guide to gambling at online casinos - how to play, how to win, where to play for real money. Featured Articles The complete guide to online casino reward schemes for loyal customers.

GPWA Approved The GPWA seal shows that FortunePalace.co.uk is a trustworthy site which adheres to the highest ethical standards. Poker Rewards : Poker Hands - What Beats What? Poker Hands - What Beats What? Poker Hands - What Beats What? Need to know the basics of poker, or need a little refresher course? No problem; here is what you need to know. First and for most, a standard 52-card deck is used in every poker game, regardless of the number of players or the style of game that is being played.

The standard deck features the following cards starting with the highest rank to the lowest as listed below: Ace Ace (an ace can count as both a low or high card) Each rank is featured in the same 4 equal suits: Spades Hearts Clubs The object is to achieve the highest hand by obtaining one of the winning card combinations listed below in the table (winning hands below are listed starting with the strongest and ending with the lowest): Poker Hand Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit Straight Flush 5 consecutive cards of the same suit (for example,5,6,7,8,9 of diamonds) Four of a Kind 4 cards with the same value (for example, 8 of hearts, 8 of clubs, 8 of diamonds, 8 of spades) Full House 3 of a kind and a pair, with the 3 of a kind being regarded first (for example, 7 of diamonds, 7 of clubs, 7 of hearts and 4 of spades and 4 of clubs) Flush Any 5 different cards of the same suit (for example 3, 5, 6, 9, J of hearts) Straight 5 cards of any suit in consecutive

 order (for example, 7 of clubs, 8 of diamonds, 9 of clubs, 10 of hearts, J of spades) Three of a Kind 3 cards with the same face value (for example, 10 of clubs, 10 of hearts, 10 of diamonds) Two Pair 2 sets of pairs (for example, 2 of clubs, 2 of hearts and 6 of diamonds, 6 of hearts) One Pair 2 cards with the same face value (for example 3 of clubs and 3 of hearts) High Card In the event that no one has any of the above hands, the player with the highest card wins.

Top 10 Poker Tips 1. Playing too many hands Nearly all beginners play way too many starting hands, most top players typically play between 20-30% of their starting hands. It's a lot better to concentrate on higher value starting hands and help remove the luck element of the game. 2. Know when to hold'em, and know when to fold'em This is the biggest tip you will get, learn how to fold a hand, and don't be a fisherman, i.e. making a call, thinking you're going to get what you want. Many beginners keep betting regardless of the board or what their opponent's actions are suggesting. Pros frequently say it's the hands you can lay down that are often the key to profitable play. 3. Choose less skillful opponents Sounds fairly obvious, but you should play at betting limits where you can beat the majority of players. Move down the limits if you are having difficulties winning cash. It's best to leave the ego at the door when playing poker. 4. Keep an eye on your opponent's habits Especially, when you aren't in the hand.

The best time to try and read other players, is when you aren't emotionally invested in a hand, you can make more prudent observations this way. Watch your opponents bet, how much they bet and in what position are they betting. Learning how your opponents play is one of the keys to success. 5. Betting to gain knowledge To bet should not mean you always have the best hand. Pro players use various betting techniques to try to gain information. For example, a defensive bet is one that you can use early on to avoid calling a bigger future bet. A re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent's hand. 6. Learn to put your opponents on a hand Once you have mastered Tips 4 & 5, try and put your knowledge to work. Try being in your opponent's shoes, and learn to put them on a hand. Ask questions like "Why did he re-raise me that amount?", and "Why did he only call in the previous betting round?". 7. Learn how to bluff and semi-bluff ..at the right times against the right players, and at the right frequency. Bluffing is often a misunderstood concept, and many beginners dismay most pros use bluffs quite sparingly.

A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent. 8. Changing Gears Unpredictability is a strength in poker. Most pros can figure out a really loose player by waiting for the nuts (top hand) and being patient. However, an even easier opponent is a tight player or "rock", who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and can play some lower value starting hands. These changes should be subtle and shouldn't dramatically affect the flop rate we mentioned in Tip #1 9. Understand player position ..and how it is critical. Not only is it important to play strong hands, it is even more important in what position you play them. For example, the ideal position is the Button (the Dealer), as you are last to act, and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action before you need to make a decision. eg. If the action before you consists of a bet, a raise, and a re-raise, and you hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the right decision. 10.

Read books and take notes Players can always learn more if they want to be a better poker player. Keep notes on what works and doesn't work for you, and eventually you will come up with a style of play that works uniquely for you and improves your game. How to Rank Poker Hands - What hand is higher? BetOnline Poker How to Rank Poker Hands The poker hands are the same in all poker games, so understanding the ranking is essential before you get started. Don’t worry though, they’re easy enough to get the hang of. The deck contains 52 cards in 4 different suits. The suits are Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds and Spades: ♥ ♣ ♦ ♠ -- In poker (generally speaking) the suits have no difference in ranking. However the cards DO rank from lowest card to the highest card and the ranking is as follows: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. In any poker game, the object is to compile the best 5 card hand that you can.

The possible poker hands from lowest hand to highest hand are as follows… High Card: As suggested, this means the highest ranking card. In the event that there are no better hands, the highest card would win. The highest card can also be used as a tie breaker in the form of a kicker, but more about that later. In example however, a King would beat a 7 and a 9 would beat a 4 and so on… Pair: Any pair will beat a high card. For example, a pair of two’s will beat an Ace. A pair of three’s would beat a pair of two’s however. Two players who both have the same pair would then use the high card to break the tie. In this instance, the high card is referred to as the Kicker. Two Pair: Two pairs will beat one pair. A pair of two’s and a pair of three’s will beat a pair of Aces. Again, two players with the same hand would use the fifth card as the kicker to determine the winner. Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same value will beat two pairs. So, three two’s will beat a pairs of Ace’s and Kings.

In some poker games, more than one player can have the same three of a kind hand and again a kicker would be used to determine the winner. Straight: Five cards in sequential order will beat three of a kind. So, if you had 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of varying suits, you would beat three Aces. A 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 would beat you though, so watch out. Flush: A Flush is five cards of the same suit. For a Flush, the cards need not be in sequential order. So, a 4, 7, 9, Jack and Queen, all hearts, would beat an Ace high straight. Watch out for that Ace high Flush though. Straight Flush: If all of your cards are of the same suit and in sequential order, you have a Straight Flush! So, a 2 of clubs, 3 of clubs, 4 of clubs, 5 of clubs and a 6 of clubs will beat an Ace high Flush of clubs or any other suit. Royal Flush: A Royal Flush is as Ace high Straight Flush.

So, a ten of hearts, Jack of Hearts, Queen of Hearts, King of Hearts and Ace of Hearts will beat anything except a Royal Flush of a different suit and a 5 of a Kind. Up against another Royal Flush, you would tie. You would only encounter a 5 of a kind playing with wild cards, but the 5 of a kind would win. 5 of a Kind: Only when playing poker with wild cards will you encounter such a hand as this, for there are normally only four of each value in each deck of cards. At any rate, this hand beats everything. The only exception to this rule is when it is discussed and determined otherwise prior to dealing the hand. So, that’s about as basic as poker hands can be broken down. This is just the beginning though, have no fear. There are many variables in poker and things are not always as they seem. Do yourself a favor and start out within your limits as you learn.

Poker Information Rules of Poker - Texas Hold'em Texas Hold'em Rules of Poker Texas Hold'em (or just "hold'em" for short) is currently the most popular variation of poker, thanks mainly to televised coverage of the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour, and various celebrity-based events. The no-limit version is often described as the "Cadillac of poker, taking only a minute to learn but a lifetime to master." ♣ Play of the Hand Each player is dealt two down (or hole) cards that only they can see. A round of betting occurs. Three community cards (known as the "flop") are dealt face up in the middle of the table. Another round of betting occurs. A fourth community card (known as the "turn") is dealt face up on the table. Another round of betting occurs. A fifth and final community card (known as the "river") is dealt face up on the table. A final round of better occurs. The player's hole cards are revealed and the player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. Your five card hand can consist of none, one, or both of your hole cards along with five, four, or three of the community cards.

If two or more players share the same best hand, the pot is divided equally among the winners. ♣ Rank of Hands Poker hands are ranked in the order specified below, lowest to highest. Note that only card rank (deuce through ace) matter in poker when comparing individual cards. The suits of clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades are all considered equal. High Card: Cards are ranked deuce (2) as the lowest to ace as the highest. If two or more players have the same high card, then the second highest card (and so on, to the fifth card if necessary) determine the winner. Pair: A pair (two cards of the same rank) beats high card. The highest pair is a pair of aces. If two or more players have the same pair, then the highest of the three remaining cards (known as kickers) determine the winner. Two Pair: Two pair beats a pair. If two or more players have two pair, then the highest pair determines the winner. For example, a pair of aces and fours beats a pair of kings and queens. If two or more players have the same two pair then the fifth card kicker determines the winner.

Three of a Kind: Three of a kind (three cards of the same rank) beats two pair. Three aces is the best of these. If two or more players share the same three of a kind hand, the two remaining kickers determine the winner. Straight: A straight beats three of a kind. A straight is five consecutive card ranks. Aces can be high or low so the lowest straight is ace through five while the highest is ten through ace. There are no kickers with straights since all five cards are needed to make the hand. Flush: A flush beats a straight. A flush is any five cards all of the same suit (i.e., all diamonds or all spades, etc.). If two of more players share a flush then the player with the highest card (all the way to the fifth card if necessary) in the flush wins. Full House: A full house beats a flush. A full house is the combination of three of a kind and a pair. If two or more players have a full house then the player with the best three of a kind wins. If those are the same then the player with the best pair wins.

Four of a Kind: Four of a kind (four cards of the same rank) beats a full house. If two or more players share the same four of a kind, then the fifth card kicker determines the winner. Straight Flush: A straight flush (five consecutive cards all of the same suit) beats four of a kind. Aces can be high or low. An ace-high straight flush is called a royal flush, the best possible hand in poker. ♣ Betting Variations Texas Hold'em can be played in three basic variations: Limit Hold'em: In Limit Hold'em, the amount you can bet or raise is fixed, according to the posted stakes. A bet placed before the turn card (4th community card) is dealt is known as a "small bet" and is fixed at the size of the big blind. A bet placed after the turn card is dealt is known as a "big bet" and is equal to twice the size of the big blind. In tournament play, these stakes are raised at set intervals, referred to as "levels". For example, in a 100/200 level, the "small bet" is 100 and the "big bet" is 200.

This means that in the first two betting rounds (before and after the flop) you can bet or raise exactly 100 chips and in the last two betting rounds (before and after the river) you can bet or raise exactly 200 chips. In limit play, the betting is capped at three raises per round, unless two players are "heads-up" in the round. Pot Limit Hold'em: In Pot Limit Hold'em, there are no fixed stakes. Instead, you can bet or raise up to the amount currently in the pot. This includes bets in front of you plus your call. For example, if there are 100 chips in the pot and you are the first to act in the betting round, the maximum you can bet is 100 chips. But the next player could then call that 100 and raise an additional 300 chips. No Limit Hold'em: In No Limit Hold'em, you can bet all of your chips at any time (referred to as going "all-in"). In Pot Limit and No Limit games, the minimum bet or raise is equal to the big blind (see below). Once a player raises, the minimum reraise is equal to the last raise.

The minimum resets to the big blind on the next round of betting. ♣ Blinds and the Button In a home game, the players take turn dealing the cards, rotating clockwise. In casino and on-line play that use a dedicated dealer, a dealer button (or just the "button") is a white disk that is rotated clockwise among the players. The player that is "on the button" is the last to act in each betting round, after the flop. In Texas Hold'em, there are forced bets called "blinds" made prior to the dealing of the hole cards. These blinds are similar to antes except they only involve two players and the bets do not immediately go into the pot. The player to the left of the button posts the "small blind" and the next player posts the "big blind". The small blind is typically half of the big blind and the big blind is the minimum bet or raise that can be made in this and all subsequent rounds. In Limit Hold'em the big blind is equal to the "small bet". In tournament play, the blinds are raised at set intervals, or levels. This keeps the action going and puts a definite end point on the game.

Otherwise, players could just keep folding their hands and the game would go on for hours or days. Once the two blinds are posted, the player to the left of the big blind is the "first to act" and has the option of folding, calling the big blind bet, or raising. Play continues around to the button. Then the player who posted the small blind has the option to call or raise the bets so far. And the same goes for the player who posted the big blind. If no one raised the big blind then that player has the option to "check" and the flop will be dealt. There are no more forced bets after the flop and first person to the left of the button (who hasn't yet folded) will be the first to act in subsequent betting rounds. ♣ Side Pots A side pot is created when a player calls a bet but doesn't have enough chips to cover the bet or if a player raises when another player is already all-in. The main pot will only hold the chips that every player contributed equally to. The overflow bets go into the side pot, which the all-in player did not contribute to and therefore cannot win. There can be multiple side pots if there are multiple all-in players.

The last side pot created is the first side pot awarded after the showdown. The main pot is awarded last. Players who fold before the showdown forfeit their right to all pots, including the main pot. Poker Hands Order - Poker Hand Rankings at PokerStars How to Play Poker Poker Hands At PokerStars, we deal many varieties of poker, some of which use different hand rankings. Hold’em , Omaha , Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw all use the traditional ‘high’ poker rankings. Omaha Hi/Lo , Razz and Stud Hi/Lo use the ‘Ace to Five’ (‘California’) low hand rankings for low hands. 2-7 Single Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw use the ‘Deuce to Seven’ (‘Kansas City’) lowball rankings for low hands. Lastly, Badugi uses a special ranking of hands unique to that game. Know your stuff? Play our interactive game at the bottom of this page. Traditional High Poker Hand Ranks + Straight Flush: Five cards in numerical order, all of identical suits. In the event of a tie: Highest rank at the top of the sequence wins.

The best possible straight flush is known as a royal flush, which consists of the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of a suit. A royal flush is an unbeatable hand. Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, and one side card or ‘kicker’. In the event of a tie: Highest four of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same four of a kind, the highest fifth side card ('kicker') wins. Full House: Three cards of the same rank, and two cards of a different, matching rank. In the event of a tie: Highest three matching cards wins the pot. In community card games where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins. Flush: Five cards of the same suit. 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. Straight: Five cards in sequence.

In the event of a tie: Highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins. Note: The Ace may be used at the top or bottom of the sequence, and is the only card which can act in this manner. A,K,Q,J,T is the highest (Ace high) straight; 5,4,3,2,A is the lowest (Five high) straight. Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side cards. In the event of a tie: Highest ranking three of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same three of a kind, the highest side card, and if necessary, the second-highest side card wins. Two pair: Two cards of a matching rank, another two cards of a different matching rank, and one side card. In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have two identical pairs, highest side card wins. One pair: Two cards of a matching rank, and three unrelated side cards. In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins.

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. High card: Any hand that does not qualify under a category listed above. In the event of a tie: Highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie. Ace To Five Lowball Hand Ranks + This method of ranking low hands is used in traditional Hi/Lo games, like Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Lo, as well as in Razz, the ‘low only’ Stud game. Note that suits are irrelevant for Ace to Five low. A flush or straight does not ‘break’ an Ace to Five low poker hand. Aces are always a ‘low’ card when considering a low hand. Please also note that the value of a five-card low hand starts with the top card, and goes down from there. Five Low, or Wheel: The Five, Four, Three, Deuce and Ace. In the event of a tie: All Five-high hands split the pot. Six Low: Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being a Six.

In the event of a tie: The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. Thus 6,4,3,2,A defeats 6,5,4,2,A. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie. Seven Low: Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being a Seven. In the event of a tie: The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie. Eight Low: Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being an Eight. In the event of a tie: The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie. An Eight Low is the weakest hand that qualifies for low in Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Lo. However in Razz, there is no such ‘qualifier’ and the lowest hand will always win the pot, even if it is a nine low, queen low, or even a pair!

Deuce To Seven Lowball Hand Ranks + The Deuce to Seven Lowball hand rankings are the exact opposite of the traditional ‘high’ hand rankings. Therefore, the worst possible hand in traditional high poker – seven-five high, with different suits, becomes the best possible hand in deuce to seven lowball (a ‘perfect seven’ low or ‘wheel’). In practice, an ace always plays as a high card in Deuce to Seven (so A,5,4,3,2 is an ace low, not a straight). Straights and flushes count against your hand in Deuce to Seven. Seven Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being a seven. The best possible hand is 7,5,4,3,2, also known as a ‘wheel’ or ‘number one’. In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. Thus 7,5,4,3,2 beats 7,6,5,3,2 (a ‘Seven-Five low’ is better than a ‘Seven-Six low’).

If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie. Eight Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being an eight. In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie. Nine Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being a nine. In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie. Ten Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being a ten. In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie. Note: There is no ‘qualifier’ for low in Deuce to Seven lowball games.

The above are just examples of hands that may come up in play – the lowest hand will always win the pot in Deuce to Seven, even if it is a pair or worse! Badugi Hand Ranks + Badugi does not use traditional poker hand rankings and it takes some practice to learn how to correctly read the hands. Badugi hand rankings are somewhat related to the Ace to Five rankings; like in Ace to Five, an ace always plays as a low card. However, unlike Ace to Five, each card in your hand must be a different suit and a different rank, in order to count. Badugi hands consist of four cards, instead of the usual five. Because of this it is impossible to make a five-card straight, and having four cards in sequence does not hurt your hand. Remember, if you have cards of the same suit, only one of them counts, and if you have pairs, only one of them counts. Badugi: A badugi is any hand which consists of four unpaired cards, each a different suit. In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest and fourth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.

Three-Card Hand: Any hand consisting of three unpaired cards of different suits, but a fourth paired or suited card. The lowest three unpaired cards of different suits play. Because there is a pair, one of the fours does not count, so it is simply ignored, making a 4,2,A three-card hand Because there are two hearts in this hand, one of them is ignored, making a 3,2,A three-card hand. In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest card in the hand can be used to break the tie. The fourth (paired or suited) card does not count toward the hand and is not used to break ties. Two-Card Hand: Any hand consisting of two unpaired cards of different suits, but two paired or suited cards. The lowest two unpaired cards of different suits play. Because there are two pairs, one of each pair is discarded, making a 5,A two-card hand. Because there are three hearts, two of them are discarded, making a 2,A two-card hand. In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot.

The third and fourth (paired or suited) cards do not count toward the hand and are not used to break ties. One-Card Hand: A hand consisting of only one playable card. The lowest card plays. Since there are four Aces, three of them are discarded, making a one-card hand of just an Ace. Since there are four cards of the same suit, three of them are discarded, making a one-card hand of just a Three. In the event of a tie: The pot is split between two equal one-card hands. Ready to test your knowledge of poker hand rankings? Play our tutorial now. Are you a new player? Download the Free Poker Software Just download the free PokerStars software to start playing. Downloading the software is simple. Learn How to Download the Poker Software What beats Four of a Kind? What beats Four of a Kind? What beats Four of a Kind in poker? Royal Flush and Straight Flush beats Four Of a Kind. Four Of a Kind beats Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card. Four Of a Kind is the 3rd best poker hand you can have.

Question: What beats 4 of a kind?
Answer: Straight Flush