handranking

Hand Rankings

It's time to brush up on those all important hand rankings. Here's a list of the possible hands and how they rank, together with a short definition and, in the hope that a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, an example image.

 

    

High card

The highest ranked card is an Ace, and the ranking runs from the Ace down through the picture cards all the way to 2.

    

Pair

Any two cards of the same rank, for example two Queens. The ranking of pairs mirrors that of the cards in general, so the strongest pair is a pair of Aces and the weakest a pair of 2s.

    

Two Pair

Two sets of cards of the same rank, for example two queens and two sixes.

    

Three of a kind

Also called trips, this is where you have three cards of the same rank, for example three sevens.
    

Straight

Five cards in sequential rank order, for example 8, 9, 10, Jack and a Queen. An ace may be used as both a high and a low card.

    

Flush

Five cards of the same suit, for example five diamonds.
    

Full house

A combination of a pair and three of a kind.
    

Four of a kind

Four cards of the same rank, for example four Queens.
    

Straight Flush

A straight (see above) but with all the cards in the same suit.
    

Royal Flush

The daddy of all poker hands, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.