Poker hands explained
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When you are playing texas hold'em poker the aim of the game is to create the best 5 card hand possible by using the available cards. In Texas Holdem this is the two cards you were dealt plus any three of the community cards. There are ten different poker hands you can make; these "hands" are also the same in other poker card games. Listed below are the ten possible poker hands you can create; I have listed them here in order of rank with the best first.
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The Royal Flush
This is the best hand you can have in poker; the royal flush is a run combining the 5
highest cards. This is the 10, jack, queen, king and ace all of the same suit. In holdem
poker it is feasible for two players to have a royal flush, it this happens the two
players would tie and the split or share the winning pot. |
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A straight flush
This is the second best hand and once again the cards must all be of the same suit and in
running numerical order. The highest possible straight flush is a King straight. This
would be a 9, 10, jack, queen and king all of the same suit. The player with the highest
straight wins, if two players both have the same hand cards the pot is split between them. |
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Four of a Kind
Just as the name of the hand suggests this is any four cards of the same value. If two or
more players have 4 of a kind the player with the highest cards is the winner, for example
four 9's would beat four 7's, Aces are high cards. |
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The Full House
Any pair of matching cards plus three of a kind make up a full house. An example of this
would be 3 Jacks and 2 Aces. If more than one player has a full house hand the winner is
determined by the highest three of a kind. |
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A Flush
A flush is any five cards of the same suit that are not in running order. If one or more
players have a flush the winner is decided by the highest card, the Ace flush is the
highest flush you can have, then it would be a king flush and so on down to a 7 flush. |
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A Straight
Any five cards in a running order make up a straight, aces can be used as both high or low
cards. The player with the highest card in the straight is the winner. Once again if two
or more players have the same hand then the pot is shared between them. |
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Three of a Kind
Any three cards that have the same face value; for example three Queens or three Fives. |
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Two Pair
Any two pairs of matching cards, for example, 2 Jacks and 2 Aces. If two players hands
have the same high pair, then the winner is decided by the highest second pair. If both
pairs are the same, the player with the highest card wins. |
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A Pair
Any two cards of the same matching value. |
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High Card
Finally if no other hand is possible the highest card wins, ace is counted as a high card.
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