Hand Ranking

Whichever type of poker you choose to play, the outcome depends on the 5-card combinations produced by the players. Some kinds of hand are ranked better than others.

So whatever game you play it's important to know which hands are ranked higher than others.

Royal Flush

The best there is: a series of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 - all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

Any five cards, in sequence, which share the same suit.

Four of a Kind

A hand with "Four of a Kind", is simply four cards of the same rank (value) plus one card of any suit or rank.

Full House

A full house is a three of a kind with the same rank combined with a pair.

Flush

Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence.

Straight

A straight is 5 cards in sequence, but not in the same suit.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank and two cards of any rank (not a pair).

A straight is 5 cards in sequence, but not in the same suit.

Two Pair

This is two distinct pairs of cards and a fifth card of any rank.

Pair

Two cards of the same rank.

High Cards

Any hand that doesn't fall into any other category is classed as a "High Card" - the highest 5 cards are played with the highest first. A "high card" hand can only beat another "high card" hand. The highest card is played first, if they are equal then the next highest card is compared, and so on.