Login

Poker Hands

About

Poker Hands

Poker is a thrilling and strategic card game that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. At its core poker is a game of skill and strategy. The game was first played in the southern United States in the early 1800s.

To ace the game, it’s essential to understand not just the rules and strategies, but also the poker hand rankings. Poker hands are combinations of five cards, ranked from the highest (like a Royal Flush) to the lowest (like a High Card). Knowing the value and strength of each hand is extremely important, especially in tournaments. It equips you to make smarter decisions and shapes your overall strategy at the table.

At Showdown Club, we deal with many varieties of poker, some of which use different hand rankings. Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud all use the traditional ‘high’ poker rankings. Wish to explore and win big? Sign up on the platform and play our interactive cash games and tournaments.

Rank Hands Name Example Description
1Strongest ROYAL FLUSH Top 5 rank cards of the same suit.
2 STRAIGHT FLUSH Any 5 consecutive cards of same suit.
3 Four Of a Kind Four cards of the same rank.
4 Full House 3 cards of same rank & 2 cards of same rank
5 Flush Any five cards of the same suit.
6 Straight Any five consecutive cards of different suits.
7 Three of a Kind Three cards of the same rank.
8 Two Pair 2 cards of same rank & 2 cards of same rank.
9 One Pair Two cards of the same rank.
10 Weakest High Card Highest random card not falling in any category.

Below is a complete list of poker hands, your ultimate guide to understanding which hands win and how to use them effectively at the poker table.

  • ROYAL FLUSH – The royal flush is the highest-ranking hand in the poker ranking table. It comprises the ace, king, queen, jack, and 10, all of the same suit. It is an unbeatable poker hand, but also one the rarest card combinations in poker.
  • STRAIGHT FLUSH – A straight flush is a poker hand which compromises the features of both a straight and a flush. It consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit. This hand is second to the royal flush in strength, making it second powerful.
  • FOUR – OF – A – KIND – The four of a Kind which is also known as quads, is a strong hand that consists of four cards of the same rank, such as four 7s. The fifth card which is not so important is known as the kicker. It can be any other card.
  • FULL HOUSE – A full house is a balanced poker hand which combines three cards of one rank and two cards of another. It is a strong well-rounded combination.
  • FLUSH – A flush consists of any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. It is a uniform suit which creates a visually striking hand. They are powerful and rank above a straight but below a full house.
  • STRAIGHT – A straight is a sequence of five consecutive cards from different suits. This unique hand showcases a seamless progression and looks pleasing to the eye.
  • THREE – OF – A – KIND – The three of a kind, also known as trips or a set, is a hand that includes three cards of the same rank. The other two cards are known as kickers and are of different ranks.
  • TWO PAIR – The two pair is a hand that has two distinct pairs of cards of the same rank, along with a fifth unrelated card called the kicker.
  • ONE PAIR – This hand is the most straightforward poker hand. It consists of two cards of the same rank and the other three being unrelated cards.
  • HIGH CARD – A high card hand occurs when no other hand combination is made, and the value of the hand is determined by the highest-ranking card in it. For example, here ace is a high hand card.

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid In Your Next Poker Game

Experienced players also sometimes mix up the hand rankings. To be sure of your hand rankings, here a few mistakes you should watch out for:

  • Don’t confuse a Straight, Flush, and Straight Flush
    A Straight is five cards in order, a Flush is five cards of the same suit, and a Straight Flush is both, five suited cards in sequence.

    A Straight Flush beats both a regular Straight and a Flush.
  • Ace cannot sit in the middle of a Straight
    The Ace can only be the highest card (A-K-Q-J-10) or the lowest (5-4-3-2-A). A hand like Q-K-A-2-3 is not a valid Straight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)