Hand Rankings
I am going to run through the hand rankings that are in place playing Texas hold’em poker, these will be useful if you are completely new to the game and need to know important information such as this. Or equally useful if you just need to jog your memory on the run down of the rankings
The best possible hand you can get in Texas hold’em is a Straight Flush this is where you have 5 consecutive numbered cards of the same suit for example 5,6,7,8,9, of spades would be a straight flush if two people have a straight flush the highest of the two will win and the best straight flush you can get it a Royal Flush which consists of A,K,Q,J,10 of the same suit
Four of a kind is the next highest hand where you have 4 cards of the same value for example 4 aces if again two people both have 4 of a kind it would be the higher of the two that win say 4 jacks would beat 4 9s
The next hand is a Full House which is made up of 3 cards of the same value and a pair also of the same value e.g. 333kk would be a full house the 3 cards determine the strength of the full house so for example 555KK would beat 444AA
Following a full house is a Flush a flush is 5 cards of the same suit for example A,K,8,5,3 of hearts the strength of a flush goes from the top card down so for example A,8,5,4,3 would beat K,Q,J,9,8 and in the same respect A,10,9,7,6 would beat A,10,9,7,5, if two parties have the same flush but of two different suits then the pot is split between the two players.
Straight is the next hand and this consists of 5 consecutive cards that can be of any suit for example Ace and king of spades queen of heats jack of clubs and 10 of diamonds and just the same as a straight flush the highest card determines the winner.
moving down you come too 3 of a Kind this is where you have 3 cards of the same value and 2 “kicker” cards to complete your 5 card hand and as always the higher the rank of the 3 cards the better so 999KQ would beat 777KQ, it is possible for 2 players to get the same ranked 3 of a kind this is where kicker cards come in, the highest kicker wins for example AAA106 would beat AAA84 if both hands are identical then the pot is split.
Two Pair is two cards or the same value with another 2 cards of a different value then a 5th card being the kicker for example KKQQA your two pair and kicker KKQQA would beat QQJJA and also would beat KKQQ10 the first pair normally determines winner but if not second pair then kicker will if hands identical pot is split.
Pair two cards of same value then 3 unrelated cards the highest pair wins if two parties have same pair it then goes down to the unrelated kicker cards to determine winner, using each of the 3 cards in order if necessary
finally the lowest hand in poker is the High card use high cards when there is no hand of any other value on the board so the highest card determines the winner of the pot going down the each card in order if necessary so AQ965 will beat AQ942
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