Poker Lesson 28: Hand Rankings

To win most of the popular poker games that are out there, the player will need to make the best five card poker hand with the cards available to them. To be able to effectively play the game it would probably be helpful for new players to know the hand rankings. This will keep somebody from letting themselves be fooled into thinking four of a kind beats a Royal Flush.

Royal Flush
A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit.

Straight Flush
Any five card sequence in the same suit. (Ex: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of same suit).

Four of a Kind
All four cards of the same index (Ex: Q, Q, Q, Q). A great hand when you can get it.

Full House
Three of a kind combined with a pair (Ex: J, J, J, 10, 10).

Flush
This hand is any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence.

Straight
Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit.

Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank.

Two pair
Two separate pairs (Ex: J, J, 3, 3).

Pair
Two cards of the same rank. (K, K).

Highest Card
When you have nothing else, you can play the highest card in your hand.