Poker Hands

Winning poker hands are determined by rank, and specific combinations of cards are given a value so that you can compare one hand against another to decide the winner. For example, a Straight Flush (ranked 3rd best) will always beat a Full House (ranked 5th).

All the suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades) are of equal rank in poker, whilst the cards themselves are ranked (in ascending order) as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.

The following is a detailed list of the ranking order in poker, from the best down to the worst hand.

1. Five of a Kind

A Five of a Kind is the highest possible poker hand when wildcards (Jokers or any other card, such as deuces, that are nominated as 'wild') are being used, and consists of five cards of the same rank. If more than one player achieves a Five of a Kind, the higher card value wins, so 5 Kings beats 5 Queens, which beat 5 Nines, and so on. Only used in games that use wildcards.

2. Royal Flush

A Royal Flush is the best natural poker hand possible, that is, without any wildcard. It consists of an 10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit.

3. Straight Flush

A Straight is a run of five cards in sequential order, such as 4-5-6-7-8, and a flush is five cards of the same suit. Combining the two terms means that a Straight Flush is five cards in consecutive order, all of the same suit.

For example, an Nine High Straight Flush would be 5-6-7-8-9 all of one suit, say clubs. With any straight, an Ace can be used low, for example, A-2-3-4-5 of diamonds.

However, a Straight (whether it be a flush or not) may not wrap around the Ace, such as K-A-2-3-4.

4. Four of a Kind

This hand is simply made up of four cards of the same rank regardless of suit. If there are two or more hands that qualify, the hand with the higher rank Four of a Kind wins - not the hand with the highest odd card. For example, a hand of 2-8-8-8-8 would beat a 6-6-6-6-Q.

5. Full House

This hand consists of a Three of a Kind combined with a Pair, such as 7-7-J-J-J. The relative ratings are determined firstly by the rank of the Three of a Kind, then by the Pair. For example, a 3-3-Q-Q-Q (three Queens) beats a 9-9-9-K-K (three 9's).

6. Flush

A Flush is a hand where all the cards are the same suit, for example, 3-7-8-J-K of hearts.

If there are two (or more) flushes tied, the higher card wins. If this is a tie, then the next card determines, and so on. In this way, 3-5-10-Q-K of diamonds beats 2-8-9-Q-K of clubs.

7. Straight

A Straight consists of five cards of any combination of suit in sequential order, such as 5-6-7-8-9. An Ace can be high or low, but cannot wrap around such as K-A-2-3-4.

When two players have a Straight, the hand with the higher rank high card wins. In this way, 9-10-J-Q-K beats 6-7-8-9-10. If two Straights have the same high card value, they split the pot.

8. Three of a Kind

This hand consists of three cards that have the same rank, such as 3-7-10-10-10. If more than one player holds Three of a Kind, the rank of the three matched cards determines the winner, so 5-5-5-J-K (three 5's) would lose against 2-3-8-8-8 (three 8's).

9. Two Pair

The Two Pair hand is made up of two separate Pairs of cards of the same rank and a 5th card of a different rank, such as 3-7-7-Q-Q. If two (or more) players have Two Pair, then the highest Pair wins. If both high Pairs are the same, then the highest remaining pair determines the winner. If both Pairs tie, then the unpaired card determines the winner. For example, 8-10-10-Q-Q will beat 6-9-9-J-J (the pair of Queens beats the pair of Jacks), 4-8-8-Q-Q (the pair of 10's beats the pair of 8's) and also 5-10-10-Q-Q (the remaining single card 8 beats the 5).

10. Pair

A Pair is two cards of the same rank with three other distinct cards, such as 3-5-7-10-10. If tied, the higher Pair wins. If both Pairs are the same, the highest remaining card wins - down to the last card if necessary. For example, 4-6-7-Q-Q beats 2-4-5-Q-Q, and 4-7-8-J-J beats 3-7-8-J-J.

11. High Card

High Card is a hand with any combination that does not qualify as one of the poker hands above. That is, if no one has a pair or better, then the highest card wins. In this way, 2-4-6-7-A beats 7-9-J-Q-K and 4-6-7-8-Q beats 3-6-7-8-Q.