Poker Hand Rankings Made Simple

April 26, 2007 / admin /

When you’re starting out as a beginning poker player, it can get a little complicated trying to remember which is worth what. You already know you’re working with playing cards and we’re going to assume you know the names of the cards, as well, such as Ace, King, Queen, Jack, etc.

The key here is that poker hands are grouped in certain categories. These categories are a two pair, a straight, a flush, etc. Whenever two players each have a hand, the player who holds the hand that is higher ranking hand wins. When the players both have hands that fall into the same category, the player with the higher ranking cards wins. Ace is valued you highest and two is, of course, the lowest ranking card. A suit is the division of the cards by their symbols, such as hearts, spades, diamonds or clubs.

If you keep the following categories of poker hands in mind, you’ll find it much easier to keep track of who’s winning at your table and why, even if you are an absolute beginner.

Straight Flush – This is a hand composed of 5 cards in order that are all in the suit. If two players come up with a Straight Flush, whoever has the higher value wins. A flush of Ace – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 is the lowest in value, but 10 – Jack – Queen – King – Ace is the highest and called a Royal Flush.

Four of a Kind – This is hand is simple, whenever you have four cards of the same numerical value you have Four of a Kind. In poker lingo, have four Jacks would be called Quad Jacks or if it was four 7’s, Quad 7’s. If two players have the same Quads, then the fifth card in their hand comes into play and that fifth card is referred to as the kicker. Whoever has the highest valued kicker between tied players wins.

Full House – This hand is made up of Three of a Kind (such as 3 Queens) and a Pair (such as 2 Aces). In poker lingo it is also referred to as a Boat. Whenever two players both end up with a Full House, whoever has the highest ranking Three of a Kind wins. If players end up with the same Three of a Kind, the highest ranking Pair determines the winner.

Flush – Five cards in the same suit is a Flush and if two players both hold a Flush, the highest wins. To determine value the higher ranking hand, the cards are compared. First the highest value card is compared, then the second and so on, until a winner is determined.

Straight – A hand that is made up of 5 cards from any suits in numerical sequence (such as 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10) is called a Straight. When two players both end up with Straights, the higher valued hand wins. The lowest ranking Straight, 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – Ace, is called a wheel and the highest ranking Straight is 10 – Jack – Queen – King – Ace.

Three of a Kind – When two players each have a Three of a Kind (known in poker lingo as trips), the one of higher value wins. If they are of equal value, then the value of the kicker cards comes into play and they will break the tie. In Texas Hold’em, if you have a Pocket Pair and you add a third card to the board to form trips, this is called a set.

Two Pair – Two pairs of two cards of the same value (such as two 7’s and two Aces) is called a Two Pair. When breaking a tie between two players who both hold Two Pair hands, the highest pairs are compared and if these are equal, then the second pairs come into play. If these are also equal, the kickers are used to break the tie.

Pair – Two cards with the same numerical value (such as two 4’s or two Kings) are called a Pair. If players both have Pairs, the highest Pair wins. If both Pairs are equal, then the kickers are compared, beginning with the highest value in each hand then the second highest and so on, until a winner is determined.

High Card – When a hand doesn’t fit into any of the above categories, then you judge it by the highest valued card. In poker lingo a hand with a King for a high card is called King high if the highest card were an 8, it would be called 8 high. When two hands both have the same highest card, you compare the second, then the third and so on until you come up with a winner.