Poker Hands Rankings
High hand
An Ace is the highest single card in Poker. A high hand is the lowest hand you can get in Poker and isn’t worth betting on or stand you any sort of chance of winning unless you have worked a fantastic bluff. When comparing hands, the person with the highest card wins.
For example, if you hold K,8,6,5,3 and your opponent holds Q,10,7,5,3. You win because the King is higher than the Queen. If both players hold the same high card then the next highest card comes into account. For example, if you hold K,Q,J,4,2 and your opponent holds K,J,7,5,2, you win because K,Q is higher than K, J. If each player’s five cards are exactly the same then this would be a tie and the pot would be split.
One pair
One pair in Poker is made up of two cards of the same rank. The highest
pair wins. For example, Q,Q,5,4,3 beats 6,6,4,3,2. If both players have
the same pair then the highest single card is taken into account. If both
players hold the same pair plus the next highest card then the next card
is taken into account and so on. One pair in Poker is usually a good bet
with a pair of aces being the highest. If each player’s five cards
are exactly the same then this would be a tie and the pot would be split.
One Pair odds: 1 in 4
Two pairs
As it sounds, two cards of the same rank twice. The highest two pairs
wins. For example, 8,8,6,6,K beats 7,7,4,4,K . If both players have the
same two pairs then the fifth card is taken into account, the highest
being the winner. If each player’s five cards are exactly the same
then this would be a tie and the pot would be split.
Two Pairs odds: 1 in 20
Three of a kind
This hand is made up of three cards of the same rank. This hand is also
known as trips to the pro player. For example, 9,9,9,K,6 beats 5,5,5,K,2.
If both players hold the same trips then the remaining two cards in the
hand are taken into account, the highest being the winner. For example
9,9,9,K,4 beats 9,9,9,J,6 because the king is higher than the Jack. If
each player’s five cards are exactly the same then this would be
a tie and the pot would be split.
Three of a kind odds: 1 in 46
Straight
This is made up of five cards of different suits in sequence or on the
bounce. For example, 4,5,6,7,8 all of different suits beats 2,3,4,5,6
because the top card eight in the first hand beats the top card six in
the second hand. The Ace is the highest card in every hand but in a straight
it can be classed as a one, also being the lowest card. The following
straight is not a valid hand in Poker. Q,K,A,2,3. This is called turning
the corner. It must start at the Ace and finish at the Ace. The highest
straight is 10,J,Q,K,A. The lowest straight is A,2,3,4,5. If each player’s
five cards are exactly the same then this would be a tie and the pot would
be split.
Straight odds: 1 in 254
Flush
A flush is when all the five cards in your hand are of the same suit.
For example K,9,5,4,2 of hearts beats Q 8,6,5,3 because you take into
account the highest card, in this example the K is higher than the Q.
If the first highest cards are of the same value then you go to the next
highest card and so on. If each player’s five cards are exactly
the same then this would be a tie and the pot would be split. This is
very rare in a flush. There are many combinations.
Flush odds: 1in 508
Full House
A full house is three cards of the same rank and 2 cards of the same
rank. For example, K,K,K,4,4 beats 8,8,8,4,4, because the king is higher
than the eight. You always look at the three of the same rank to determine
the highest full house because there are only four of any number in a
pack of cards so you would never have to look at the pair. The pair would
only come into account in playing with more than one pack of cards which
very rarely happen unless there are a lot of people playing in one game.
Full House odds: 1 in 693
Four of A Kind
Four Of A Kind is how it sounds. Four of the same value. For example,
5,5,5,5, J beats 3,3,3,3,Q because fives are higher than threes. Only
when playing with more than 1 pack of cards can there be two four of a
kind hands because there are only four of any one number in one pack of
cards.
Four of a kind odds: 1 in 4164
Straight Flush
A straight flush is five cards in sequence of the same suit. An ace can
be counted as the lowest card or the highest. For example 2,3,4,5,6 of
hearts beats A,2,3,4,5 spades. If there are 2 or more straight flushes
then the highest first card wins. You cannot turn the corner with a straight
flush just like in a straight. The highest straight flush is 10,J,Q,K,A
of any suit which is called a Royal.
Straight Flush odds: 1 in 72,192
Royal Flush
This is the highest hand in poker. Five cards in sequence of the same
suit. 10,J,Q,K,A. If more than one player got a straight flush than the
pot would be shared. There would probably be a lot of money in the pot
if straight flushes were floating. This is an extremely rare combination.
Royal Flush Odds: 1 in 649,739
