Poker is a popular card game enjoyed by many, yet understanding the different hands can be tricky for beginners. Knowing how cards are ranked is an essential aspect of the game, as it lets you know the strength of your hand, which is key for making decisions.
In poker, each hand has a specific value, from the highest to the lowest. Being able to quickly recognise these rankings can help you strategise more easily.
This guide will clearly explain the ranking of poker hands so you'll always know where you stand with your current hand. Before you start playing, make sure to familiarise yourself with these poker hand values.
Card Values In Poker
Understanding card values in poker is essential for anyone new to the game. In poker, the value of your cards is largely determined by how strong a hand they can form. A poker hand is composed of a combination of the player's hole cards (the two cards dealt to each player) and the community cards (the five cards placed face-up on the table for all players to use).
In a typical game of Texas Hold'em, a hand can include up to five cards. The more valuable the combination of these cards, the stronger your hand will be. For example, having a pair (two cards of the same rank) is generally weaker than having three of a kind (three cards of the same rank). However, as hands get more complex, specific combinations like a Full House or a Straight Flush (two different types of hands involving 5 cards) become crucial in determining the winner.
If the game reaches a showdown, the player with the strongest hand wins. The showdown occurs if more than one player remains after the final betting round. At this point, players reveal their cards, and the best five-card hand, according to the hand rankings (to be discussed in the next section), takes the pot.
This fundamental understanding of card values and hand strength is key to getting started with poker.
Poker Hands From Highest To Lowest
Understanding how the different poker hands measure up to each other is a key element of poker. If you make it to the showdown, you need to know where your hand ranks against others so that when all of the cards are revealed, you can see whether you have won or not.
It's also crucial in helping you to make better-informed decisions throughout the game, as you can make decisions based on the strength of your hand, and understanding the rankings helps you gauge the strength of your hand.
Royal Flush
The Royal Flush is the highest-ranking hand in poker. It includes an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all of the same suit. This hand is unbeatable.
Straight Flush
A Straight Flush is made up of five consecutive cards all of the same suit. For example, 5-6-7-8-9, all in diamonds.
Four of a Kind
This hand has four cards of the same rank, such as four 8s. The fifth card can be any other card.
Full House
A Full House consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. An example is three 10s and two Jacks.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence, make up a Flush. For instance, 2, 5, 9, Jack, and King, all in hearts.
Straight
A Straight includes five consecutive cards of different suits. For example, 4-5-6-7-8 made up of different suits.
Three of a Kind
This hand has three cards of the same rank, like three Queens.
Two Pair
Two Pair includes two different pairs, such as two 3s and two 7s.
Pair
A Pair is two cards of the same rank, like two Aces. The other three cards can be any card.
High Card
If no other hand is made, the High Card hand is simply the highest card in your hand. For example, if your highest card is a King, that's your High Card.
These hand rankings are crucial for any poker game, and the order in which they are displayed here is their rankings. Royal Flush is the strongest, and High Card is the weakest. Learning them is a key piece of foundational knowledge in poker that can help you play with more confidence and make better choices.