Poker Hand Rankings

Texas holdem poker hands are always five cards. The winner has the highest-ranking hand made from any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards. The poker hand rankings are listed below, from highest to lowest winning poker hands.

Royal Flush

The highest poker hand ranking, a Royal Flush has an ace as its high card, has a special name, royal flush. For example, Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of spades.

Tied Hand: The pot is split if you both have a Royal Flush, but the odds of this are like a bazillion to 1.

Straight Flush

The second highest poker hand ranking, a Straight Flush has five cards of the same suit in numerical sequence.

Tied Hand: In a showdown among two or more players holding Straight Flush, the highest ranked card at the top of the sequence wins. The pot is split if there's a tie.

Four of a Kind - Quads

Third down the list of winning poker hands is Quads, or Four of a Kind, which is four cards of the same rank.

Tied Hand: If two or more Four of a Kinds exist in a hand, the highest four of a kind wins. If the kicker is the same rank, the pot is split.

Full House

The fourth type of winning hands in poker is Full House, which is three-of-a-kind plus a pair.

Tied Hand: In a showdown among players holding Full Houses, the hand with the highest three of a kind wins. If multiple hands each contain the same Full House, the hand with the highest pair wins. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.

Flush

According to poker hand rankings, a Flush is higher than a Straight. A Flush is any five cards of the same suit.

Tied Hand: In a showdown among players holding flushes, the hand topped with the highest one or more cards wins. When the top card is tied, the next card is compared; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is compared; and so on.

Straight

Next in the order of winning hands in poker is a Straight, which is five consecutive cards in numerical sequence, regardless of suit.

Tied Hand: In a showdown among players holding straights, the hand with the highest top card wins. If two or more exactly ranked straights exist, the pot is split.

Three of a kind - Trips

Trips, a Set, or Three of a Kind is three cards of the same rank.

Tied Hand: In a showdown among players holding three of a kind, the hand with the highest rank wins. If multiple hands each contain the same three of a kind, the hand with the highest side cards wins. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.

Two Pair

Poker hand rankings list Two Pair higher than One Pair.

Tied Hand: In a showdown among players holding two pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. In a showdown among players holding the same top pair, the hand with the highest second pair wins. If both pairs are identical, the highest fifth card by rank (Kicker) wins. If the Kicker is also of the same rank, the pot is split.

One Pair

Winning hands in poker can be done with only one pair, which is two cards of the same rank.

Tied Hand: In a showdown among players holding one pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. In a showdown among players holding the same pair, the hand with the highest one or more side cards wins. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.

High Card

The lowest of poker hand rankings is High Card, which is when you have not made a hand and are praying that you at least have the highest card on the table.

Tied Hand: If no hand has a pair or better at the showdown, the hand topped by the highest one or more cards wins. When the top card is tied, the next card is compared; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is compared; and so on. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is split.

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