Knowing the hand rankings is a very important part of the game. When playing a hand you’ll need to know instantly what hand you have and what other possible hands can be made from the flop and your opponent’s two possible cards. If you are new to the game then this may sound a bit daunting but believe me you’ll pick it up in no time. Here are the hand rankings in Texas holdem, starting with the best hand in Texas Holdem.
1. Royal Flush
A Royal Flush is the highest poker hand. A royal flush consists of 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit. All royal flushes are the same, regardless of suit.
2. Straight Flush
A straight flush is 5 cards of the same suit running in numerical order. For example 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 of the same suit. However If there are two straight flushes, the hand is awarded to the player holding the highest card. So 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 of hearts would beat A, 2, 3, 4, 5 of hearts. The ace in this case is low.
3. Four of a kind
Four of a kind also known as quads, is fairly self explanatory. You need four cards of the same value, for example K, K, K, K. The fifth card does not come in to play unless another player has the same four of a kind (for example all four kings were dealt as community cards). In which case whoever has the highest kicker wins. In the event of there being two players with sets of Quads, the player with the higher value Quads will win. AAAA beats KKKK. Ace is always high in this instance.
4. Full House
A Full House is three cards of the same value and two cards of another. For example three Tens and Two Aces is known as Tens over Aces (10,10,10,A,A). If two or more players have a full house, the winner is determined by the higher value three cards. If both players have the same three matching cards the winner is decided by who has the highest value two matching cards.
5. Flush
A Flush is any 5 cards of the same suit. In cases where more than one player has a flush, then the winner is decided by the highest card. If both players have the same high card then it goes by the next card down and so on.
6. Straight
A straight is five cards of any suit running in numerical order. An Ace can be counted as high or low in this case, so the highest straight possible is 10, J, Q, K, A, and the lowest straight is A, 2, 3, 4, 5. When two or more players have a straight, the winner is decided by the player who holds the highest card, for example 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 beats 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
7. Three of a kind
Three of a Kind is again fairly self explanatory (10, 10, and 10). Trips as this hand is commonly known as, is made when a player has three cards all of the same value. If two or more players three of a kind ranking the player with the highest three matching cards will win. If two or more players have the same three of a kind then the winner is decided by the value of their kicker.
8. Two Pair
Two pair is made up of two cards of one value and another two cards of another value, for example 3, 3 and 9, 9. If two or more players have two pair the winner is decided by the highest pair. If both players have the same high pair the winner is then decided by the highest second pair. When players have the same 2 pair poker rank the highest fifth card (Kicker) determines the winner.
9. One pair
One pair is exactly that, one pair. If you get two cards of the same value out of the possible five. A, A is the best possible pair. If more than one player has a pair, then the highest pair wins. If two or more players have the same pair then as before it depends on the next card down and so on.
10. High Card
High card is the lowest poker hand you can get. When none of the above hands are made, the player with the highest card wins. If the highest card is a Queen, it is known as Queen high and so on. If two player have the same high card it goes to your second card.