The ranking of hands for poker

As many of you may already know, Texas Holdem and 7 Card Stud are the two most played poker games where the highest ranking hand winds the pot. Typically, these two games are played with a deck of 52 cards (no jokers). Each deck of cards is comprised of 4 different suits – clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. Each suit is equal in value when playing poker. Each suit contains 13 cards (ranks) – numbers 2-10, a jack, queen, king and an ace. Aces are the highest ranking card and 2s are the lowest when playing poker. There is an exception where aces are concerned. In a 5 high straight - -the ace is used as a 1.

Even though Texas Holdem and 7 Card Stud are poker games played with seven cards (for each player), the best hand is made out of the best 5 cards. Hand rankings are a function of probability. The rarer the hand, the higher ranked it is on the totem pole.

Below, we have listed all the different types of poker hands starting from the lowest ranking hand of poker to the best hand possible:

No Pair – this hand consists of five unrelated cards. If there just happens to be a hand where no player has at least one pair, the following is how you figure out who wins the hand – say player one has A-Q-9-6-3 and player two has A-J-10-3-2. Player one would win because A-Q ranks higher than A-J.

One Pair – This is a hand of poker containing two cards of the exact same rank and three other unrelated cards. If two players should happen to be holding one pair in their respective hands, the player with the highest ranking pair wins the pot. For example, two queens out-rank two tens.

Two Pair – This is a hand of poker where two cards of the exact same rank along with two additional cards that also have another exact ranking to each other and one unrelated card. The higher ranking pair obviously determines which two pair is superior. If two players should happen to be holding two pair hands, the player with the highest ranking pair wins, If the two players also have the same highest ranking pair (for example, both players contesting the pot each have a pair of tens as their highest pair), the player with the next highest ranking pair wind the pot. For example, both players contesting the pot are each holding a pair of tens but player one’s additional pair is a pair of 8’s and player two’s additional pair  is a pair of 3s. Player one wins because 8s out-rank 3s.

Three of a kind – This is a hand of poker that contains three cards of the exact same rank, along with two unrelated cards. Some poker players refer to this hand as trips.

Straight – This is a hand of poker containing five sequenced cards, not all of the same suit. If more than one straight is contesting the pot, the one with the highest ranking card wins the pot. For example, a jack high straight beats a ten high straight when playing poker.

Flush – A flush is any five cards of the same suit. These cards are not in numerical sequence, but are all cards of the same suit. As with straights, if there are two flushes contesting the pot, the one with the highest ranking card wins.

Full House – This is a hand containing a three of a kind and a pair. The rank of the full house is determined by the three pair – not the pair. For example, 10-10-10-5-5 is considered tens over fives - or tens full of fives.

Four of a kind – This is a hand that contains 4 cards of the exact same card ranking and one unrelated card. The higher the rank, the better the hand. So, four jacks would beat four 9s.

Straight Flush – This is a hand containing five cards of the same suit in numerical sequence.

Royal Flush – This is the highest ranking hand of poker any player can get. While it is extremely rare – it does happen. A royal flush is simply a an ace high straight flush. For example, A-K-Q-J-10 all of one suit.

There you have it. The complete listing of hand ranks for the game of poker. No matter which poker game you play, these are the ranks of hands that can be dealt to players. This ranking prevails whether you are playing at online poker rooms or casinos in Vegas.

Some home games use wild cards. This can change the dynamics of hand ranking just a bit. If you are playing a game of poker where wild cards are used, be sure to get the exact understanding of what happens if two players are contesting the pot with the same hand of poker. Most house rules or home game rules say that the hand highest ranking non-wild card is the winner. Be certain of this tedious issue before you even begin playing any poker game using wild cards.

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