Poker Hand Rankings

The following is the ordering of hands, along with a few easy definitions. The strongest hand wins. This ordering is from weakest to strongest.

• High card: In the series of cards from 2 through Ace, the higher the card number, the higher the rank of the card. After ten come, in order, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. The Ace is the highest ranked card, the high card.

• Pair: Any 2 cards of the same rank. For example, 2 threes, 2 Jacks, 2 Aces.

• Two Pair Two sets of 2 cards of the same rank. For example, 2 Queens and 2 fives.

• Three of a kind: Also called trips. For example, three sevens.

• Straight: Five cards in sequential rank order, in a row. For example: 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen. An ace might be used as either a one or the highest card as in: A, 2, 3, 4, five and 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace. Please note that King, Ace, 2, 3, four is not a straight.

• Flush: Five cards of the same suit. For example, five cards, all of Clubs.

• Full House: A combination of three of a kind and a pair.

• Four of a kind: For example, four Kings.

• Straight Flush: A straight (5 in a row) all of the same suit. In some cases, the kicker card breaks a tie. This applies when 2 players have the same winning pair or 2 pair. The kicker card is the ideal high card after the pair.

• Royal Flush: The highest straight flush and highest possible hand, consisting of 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit.

In some cases, the kicker card breaks a tie. This applies when 2 players have the same winning pair or 2 pair. The kicker card is the ideal high card after the pair.

Straights are determined by the high card. For example, 5, 6, 7, 8, nine beats 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Where there are 2 flushes in a hand, the highest different card determines the winner. For example, a spade flush of K, Q, 10, 4, three beats a spade flush of K, Q, 9, 4, 3. In Hold’em and Omaha, where there are shared board cards, this scenario happens on occasion. In seven Card or five Card Stud, where there are no shared cards, it is possible for there to be flushes from different suits. In poker, there is no ordering of suits. Therefore, a spade flush of K, Q, 10, 4, three ties a club flush of K, Q, 10, 4, 3.

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