Hand Rankings

It goes without saying that this is pretty much the first thing you need to learn to play poker. Without knowing which hands beat which you are playing blind and shouldn’t even begin. Print these out and revise them like your times table until you can recite them backwards.

Royal Flush

A K Q J 10 all of the same suit. This is the best possible hand and is unbeatable.

Straight Flush

Any other five consecutive cards (in a row) of the same suit. For example J 10 9 8 7 of clubs.

Four Of A Kind

Any four cards that are the same. For example A A A A. With a kicker card.

Full House

Three of a kind and two of a kind. For example Q Q Q 4 4. This is known as Queens full of Fours. 4 4 4 Q Q would be called Fours full of Queens.

Flush

Any five cards of the same suit. For example 2 5 8 9 Q of diamonds.

Straight

Any five consecutive cards (in a row) of different suits. For example 4 of spades 5 of hearts 6 of clubs 7 of clubs 8 of clubs.

Three Of A Kind

Any three cards that are the same. For example 7 7 7.

Two Pairs

Two sets of different pairs. For example K K 7 7.

Pair

Any two cards the same. For example J J.

High Card

The highest ranking card in the hand. For example K 2 J 6 9 off suit is classed as King High.

Notes:
1. In any two or more poker hands that are the same (i.e. if two or more players have a straight), the player with the highest card wins.
2. In Two pairs or Full house, the player with the best top pair wins. For example two Aces and two Fours beats two Kings and two Queens. Also, Queens full of Fours beats Fours full of Queens.
3. In a straight, the Ace can count as a “1” so you can have A 2 3 4 5. In this case the Ace is the lowest card, so this straight would be beaten by 2 3 4 5 6.
4. There is no difference between suits. All suits are equal.