Poker Hand Rankings

One of the first things to learn before gracing any table with your presence are poker hand rankings. It is key that you know what hand beats what so that you know where you are in any hand.

Royal Flush

A K Q J 10
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit (this can be any suit).

Straight Flush

9 8 7 6 5
Any 5-card sequence in the same suit (e.g.: 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen of clubs; or 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of diamonds) - a strong hand beaten only by the Royal Flush.

Four of a Kind

Q Q Q Q 2
A Poker Hand where four cards of the same value (e.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8; or Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen) or in the example above, four Queens.

Full House

10 10 10 9 9
A hand consisting of three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g.: 3 tens with pair or similar combination).

Flush

K 10 7 5 6
Poker hand consisting of any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (e.g.: 4, 5, 7, 10 and King of spades).

Straight

8 7 6 5 4
A hand with five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (or would be straight flush) (e.g.: 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds, 10 of spades and Jack of hearts).

3 of a Kind

4 4 4 6 3
A hand with three cards of the same value (e.g.: 3, 3, 3; or Jack, Jack, Jack).

2 Pair

10 10 9 9 2
A hand with two separate pairs (e.g.: 2, 2, Queen, Queen).

1 Pair

10 10 A K 2
A hand with two cards of the same value (e.g.: 5, 5).

High Card

K Q 7 5 2
If a hand contains none of the above combinations (pair and above), it is valued by the highest card there, in the case immediately above the King would be the high card.