Poker Hand Rankings

Poker Hand Rankings: What is the Best Poker Hand?

Understanding the Poker Hand Rankings is absolutely crucial for any novice player. Without a firm grasp of these Poker Hand rankings, it becomes virtually impossible to make informed decisions about your hand’s potential and whether it stands a chance of triumphing over others. Therefore, familiarising yourself with the intricacies of Poker Hand Rankings is an essential step towards becoming a skilled and successful poker player. 

In order to become a skilled poker player, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the Poker Hand Rankings. These rankings are particularly important in popular poker variants like Texas Holdem, where players strive to form the highest-ranking hand. However, it is worth noting that certain variations, such as Razz Poker, have a different objective and utilize the Low Hand Ranking system.

 Additionally, some poker games incorporate both high and low hand rankings, resulting in a split pot between players with the best high hand and best low hand. While it is not necessary to familiarize oneself with the Low Hand Rankings if you solely intend to play Texas Holdem, they become relevant if you decide to explore other poker variants. 

By grasping the intricacies of Poker Hand Rankings, you will enhance your gameplay and increase your chances of success. So, whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, mastering these rankings is essential for your journey towards becoming a formidable poker player. 

High Hand Rankings

In the world of poker, knowing the hierarchy of your poker hand rankings is crucial. With 10 distinct High hand rankings, it’s essential to understand which ones are the most powerful. From the unbeatable number 1 hand to the lowest ranking hand at number 10, this comprehensive poker guide ensures that you’ll never be unsure of a winning poker hand again. Master the art of high poker hand rankings and dominate the poker table with your strategic prowess. 

1. The Best Poker Hand: Royal flush

The Royal Flush is the most coveted hand in poker, comprising of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten, all in the same suit. This unbeatable combination is the pinnacle of poker excellence. Regardless of the suit, all Royal Flushes hold the same value and prestige. 

• The probability of being dealt a Royal Flush is extremely low, occurring only once in every 649,740 hands. That is why this is basically the King of all Poker Hand Rankings. The four possible Royal Flushes, each distinguished by their respective suit symbols and color-coded letters/numbers (A, K, Q, J, 10), are the heart-flush, diamond-flush, club-flush, and spade-flush. ushes are equal.

1. Straight flush

A Straight Flush is the second highest of all poker hand rankings. As a powerful hand in poker, it consists of five cards of the same suit in sequential order, such as A, K, Q, J, 10. The probability of getting a Straight Flush depends on the number of possible combinations within a deck of cards.

There are four possible Straight Flushes, each with a different suit: A♠️, K♠️, Q♠️, J♠️, 10♠️, and  ♥️A, ♥️K, ♥️Q,♥️ J, 10♥, and  A♦️, K♦️, Q♦️, J♦️, 10♦️, and A♣️, K♣️, Q♣️, J♣️, 10♣️.

Achieving a Straight Flush is rare, but when it happens, it can lead to a winning hand and a thrilling victory in the game of poker. Remember to strategize and play your cards wisely to maximize your chances of obtaining this coveted hand.

A Straight Flush can start with any card from Ace (high) to 6 (the lowest card that can start a Straight Flush), and there are four suits.

Therefore, there are 10 different Straight Flushes (including Royal Flushes) per suit, which makes 10 × 4 = 40 10×4=40 total Straight Flush combinations in a standard deck. 

• The probability of being dealt a Straight Flush in a game of poker is approximately 0.00154%, or about 1 in 64,974. This low probability reflects the rarity and strength of a Straight Flush hand in poker.

1. Four of a kind

Four of a kind is a powerful hand in poker, consisting of four cards of the same rank, such as four queens, and one additional card of any rank. This combination is also known as “quads” and is ranked higher than a full house but lower than a straight flush.

• The probability of being dealt four of a kind in a game of poker is approximately 0.024%, or about 1 in 4,165. If two players both have four of a kind, the player with the higher set of four cards wins. In the rare event that both players have the same set of four cards, the player with the higher fifth card, also known as the kicker, wins the hand.
  

1. Full house

A “full house” in poker refers to a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, having three fives and two threes would be considered a full house, specifically known as “fives on threes”  5♠ 5♥ 5♦ 3♠ 3♥ or as “fives full”. When comparing full houses, the rank of the three cards determines which hand is higher. For instance, a hand with three Queens and two fives Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 5♦ 5♣ would beat a hand with three fives and two Aces  5♥ 5♦ 5♣ A♠ A♥. If the three of a kind in two full houses are equal, then the rank of the pairs would be used to determine the higher hand.

• The total number of Full House combinations in a standard 52-card deck is 3,744. The probability of being dealt a Full House in a game of poker is approximately 0.144%, or about 1 in 694.

1. Flush

A “flush” in poker refers to a hand that consists of five non-sequential cards of the same suit. This means that all five cards are of the same suit, such as all hearts or all spades. When comparing two flushes, the highest card in the hand determines which flush is ranked higher. If the highest cards are equal, then the second highest card is compared. If those are equal as well, then the third highest card is compared, and so on. For example, a hand with the cards K-Q-10-9-2 of hearts would beat a hand with the cards K-Q-9-7-5 of diamonds because the highest and second highest cards are the same, but with the third highest card, the ten beats the nine.

• The probability of being dealt a flush in a game of poker is approximately 0.197%, or about 1 in 508 which make a Flush a relatively rare event.

1. Straight

In poker, a “straight” is a hand that consists of five consecutive cards of any suit. For example, a straight could be formed by the cards 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. When comparing two straights, the one with the higher-ranking top card is considered better. It’s important to note that an Ace can count as either high or low in a straight. This means that the highest possible straight is A, K, Q, J, 10, while the lowest possible straight is A, 2, 3, 4, 5. However, it’s not possible to “turn the corner” with a straight, meaning a combination like K, A, 2, 3, 4 is not valid.

If two players have a straight, the player with the higher-ranking top card wins. For example, a straight consisting of 9, 10, J, Q, K would beat a straight consisting of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. If both players have the same top card, the second highest card is compared, and so on. In the rare event that both players have the exact same straight, the pot is split evenly between them.

• The total number of Straight combinations in a standard 52-card deck is 10,200. The probability of being dealt a Straight in a game of poker is approximately 0.392%, or about 1 in 255. This calculation considers the variety of suit combinations for each Straight sequence, excluding those that would form a Straight Flush. This makes a straight a relatively common hand compared to others.

1. Three of a kind

    

In poker, a “three of a kind” is a hand that consists of three cards of the same rank, along with two other unrelated cards. This combination is also known as “trips” or a “set.” When comparing two three of a kind hands, the hand with the higher-ranking three cards is considered better. For example, a hand with three fives and a seven and an eight (5-5-5-7-8) would beat a hand with three fours and an Ace and a Queen (4-4-4-A-Q).

If two players have a three of a kind, the player with the higher-ranking three cards wins. In the rare event that both players have the exact same three cards, the two unrelated cards are compared. If those are also equal, the pot is split evenly between the players.

Understanding the concept of a three of a kind is essential for any poker player, as it is a relatively strong hand that can lead to victory. By familiarizing yourself with the odds and strategies associated with this hand, you can make informed decisions and increase your chances of success at the poker table.

• The total number of Three of a Kind combinations in a standard 52-card deck is 54,912. The probability of being dealt a Three of a Kind in a game of poker is approximately 2.11%, or about 1 in 47. This calculation takes into account the number of possible combinations of three cards of the same rank and the remaining two unrelated cards.

1. Two pairs
   I.e. 5♠ 5♥ 9♠ 9♥ 4♠

In the game of poker, a “two pairs” hand refers to a hand that consists of two pairs of cards with the same rank, along with an unrelated fifth card. This combination is ranked lower than a three of a kind but higher than a one pair hand. When comparing two two pairs hands, the hand with the higher-ranking highest pair wins. For example, a hand with two pairs of Kings and Queens, along with a Jack as the fifth card (K-K-Q-Q-J), would beat a hand with two pairs of Tens and Nines, along with an Eight as the fifth card (10-10-9-9-8). If the highest pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared, and if those are also equal, the fifth card, also known as the kicker, is compared. In the rare event that both players have the exact same two pairs, the pot is split evenly between them.

• The probability of being dealt a two pairs hand in a game of poker is approximately 4.75%, or about 1 in 21. This calculation takes into account the number of possible combinations of two pairs and the remaining unrelated fifth card. Understanding the concept of a two pairs hand is essential for any poker player, as it is a relatively strong hand that can lead to victory. By familiarizing yourself with the odds and strategies associated with this hand, you can make informed decisions and increase your chances of success at the poker table.

1. Pair

I.e. 3♠ 3♥ Q♦ J♦ 8♠   
In poker, a “Pair” is a hand consisting of two cards of the same rank, accompanied by three other cards of different ranks. When two players each have a Pair, the winner is determined by the rank of the pair – the higher pair wins. If both players have the same pair, the winner is decided by the highest of the three remaining cards (the ‘kicker’). In cases where the kickers have the same value, the pot is split evenly between the players. The simplicity and frequency of Pairs make them a fundamental aspect of poker strategy and decision-making.

Understanding the concept of a pair hand is essential for any poker player, as it is a relatively common hand that can still lead to victory. By familiarizing yourself with the odds and strategies associated with this hand, you can make informed decisions and increase your chances of success at the poker table.

• This is one of the most common hands, as the probability of being dealt a Pair in a five-card hand is about 42% or about 1 in 2.37

   

1. High card

    

Five cards which do not form any of the combinations listed above. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better highest card wins. If the highest cards are equal the second cards are compared; if they are also equal the third cards are compared, and so on. So A-J-9-5-3 beats A-10-9-6-4 because the jack beats the ten.

In the game of poker, a “High Card” hand refers to a hand that does not form any of the other combinations listed in the poker hand rankings. It is the lowest-ranking hand in poker and consists of five cards that are not in sequence, all of different suits. When comparing two High Card hands, the winner is determined by the highest card in the hand. For example, a hand with an Ace, King, 10, 7, and 8 would beat a hand with an Ace, Queen, 9, 8, and 5 because the King is higher than the Queen. If the highest cards are equal, the second highest cards are compared, and so on, until a winner is determined. If all five cards are the same rank, the pot is split evenly between the players. 

• The probability of being dealt only a high card (i.e., a hand that does not qualify as any of the standard poker hands from One Pair to Straight Flush) in poker is approximately 50.12%. This means that in about half the deals, a player’s hand will consist solely of a high card, making it one of the most common outcomes in a game of poker.

It is necessary to understand the concept of a High Card hand for any poker player, as it is a common occurrence in the game. By familiarizing yourself with the odds and strategies associated with this hand, you can make informed decisions and increase your chances of success at the poker table. 

By thoroughly studying these poker hand rankings, you will quickly become familiar with them as you gain more experience in playing. Understanding the fundamental rules of the game is crucial and serves as the initial milestone in your learning journey. 

Low Poker Hand Ranking

In several poker variants, the goal is to achieve the lowest hand possible rather than the highest. These games include Razz, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud Hi-Lo (Eight or Better), among others. When evaluating low hands, always read your cards from highest to lowest. This approach helps to quickly and accurately determine the strength of your hand. The best low hand is the one with the lowest highest card. In case of a tie in the highest card, the second highest card is considered, and so on. For example, a hand of 6-5-4-2-A is stronger than 6-5-4-3-A because the fourth highest card in the first hand (2) is lower than the fourth highest card (3) in the second hand. In low hand poker games, suits are not important – flushes are not considered in determining hand strength. This simplifies hand evaluation, focusing solely on the ranks of the cards.

In these “Ace to Five” lowball rankings, the value of the hands is determined by the highest card, aiming for as low a card as possible in that position. Aces are low, and the evaluation prioritizes avoiding pairs, straights, and flushes, reading the hand from the highest card downward.

If you’re new to poker, it’s best to start by learning the high hand rankings used in Texas Holdem, which is the recommended variant for beginners. You can ignore the low hand ranks for now unless you decide to focus on a game that uses them.