In this lesson you’re going to learn the first and most important step about how to play poker by learning the all important poker hand rankings.

• How To Deal Texas Holdem
• Texas Holdem Tournament Videos
• Texas Holdem Starting Hands
• Texas Holdem Hands

Ace-King (Suited) This is where people start to disagree. A suited (both the same suit) ace-king, also known as 'big slick,' is arguably the fourth-best starting hand for Texas Hold 'em. However, you really have nothing until you start developing a flush, straight. In Texas Hold’em a hand where aces, kings and queens pair up preflop is very rare. At a 9 player table this scenario unfolds roughly every 17,000 hands. The odds are 1:16,830 and the probability is 0.006%.

• A standard poker hand consists of five cards.
• Each poker hand is ranked in a set order.
• The higher the rank, the less chance statistically you have of getting it.
• The higher the rank of your hand the better, because two pairs always beats one pair, and a flush always beats a straight.
• When two or more players have a hand of the same rank, then there are more ways to determine the best hand.

Hopefully all these points will make perfect sense by the end of this lesson.

Poker Hands (from Best to Worst)

Be sure to pay close attention and memorize the poker hand rankings. Let’s start with the best possible hand in poker….

Royal Flush

A Royal flush consists of five cards of the same suit, in sequence from 10 through to Ace. Remember that all suits are equal in poker. If two or more players hold a royal flush (highly unlikely) then the pot is split, i.e. the players share the winnings.

Straight Flush

Five cards of the same suit, in sequence. This example shows a Jack high straight flush. If two or more players hold a straight flush then it is the highest that wins. For example, a Queen high straight flush beats a Jack high straight flush. You will notice that this is very similar to a Royal flush, and that’s because a Royal flush is in fact an ace high straight flush – but it’s given its very own ranking.

How To Deal Texas Holdem

Four of a Kind

This hand contains four cards of the same rank/value. This example shows four 8’s, plus a 5 (remember that all poker hands must have five cards). If two or more players have four of a kind, then the highest value wins (e.g. four 9’s beats four 8’s). If two or more players share the same four of a kind, which can happen when using community cards (more on that later) then the winner is decided by the fifth card. So a player with four 8’s and a 6 would beat a player with four 8’s and a 5.

Full House

A full house contains three cards of the same rank, plus a pair. In our example you can see three 10’s and a pair of 7’s. The value of the three matching cards determines the strength of a full house. So three Jack’s with a pair of 7’s would beat our example hand. If players share the same three cards, which is possible when using community cards, the strength of the pair is then taken into account. So, three 10’s and a pair of 8’s would beat our example hand.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit in any order. Our example shows a Queen high flush. If two or more players have a flush then the player with the highest ranked card wins. If the players share the same high card then it’s determined by the value of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th card respectively.

Straight

This hand contains five unsuited cards in sequence. Our example shows a King high straight. In the event of a tie, the best straight is determined by the highest ranked card. A straight consisting of 8, 9, 10, J, Q, would lose to our example hand. But a straight consisting of 10, J, Q, K, A, would win. Also note that an Ace can be used as the low card for a straight of A, 2, 3, 4, 5. This would lose to a straight of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated cards. Our example shows three 4’s. Three 5’s would beat our example hand, three 6’s would beat three 5’s, and so on. If players share the same three cards, then the value of the highest unrelated card would count and if necessary, the value of the second unrelated card. So, three 4’s with Jack, 8, would beat our example hand. As would three 4’s and 10, 9 (because 9 is higher than 8).

Two Pair

Two cards of matching rank, with another two cards of another rank, plus an additional card. In the event of a tie, the highest pair wins. If players share the same highest pair, then the value of the next pair wins. For example, a pair of Aces, and a pair of 6’s would beat our example hand, as would a pair of Kings and a pair of 7’s. If two or more players share the same two pair, then the value of the fifth card counts. So, a pair of Kings, a pair of 6’s, with a 4, would beat our example hand.

One Pair

A paired hand contains two cards of matching rank, plus three additional cards. The value of the pair determines who wins in the event of a tie. For example a pair of 10’s beats our example hand. If players share the same pair then the best hand is determined by the value of the highest additional card. If this is the same then it goes to the second card, and if necessary the third. So, a pair of 9’s with an Ace, 2, and 10, would beat our example hand. As would a pair of 9’s, King, 10, and a 3.

High Card

If a hand doesn’t fall into any of the above categories, then it is judged on the value of the highest ranked card among the five. In this example we have a hand which is Queen high. If players share the same highest card, then it goes to the value of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and even 5th card if necessary. A hand of Queen, 10, 9, 5, 4, would beat our example hand.

Community Cards

As you already know, a poker hand consists of five cards. In many variations of poker, players receive or can choose from more than five cards. For example, in Texas Hold’em each player is dealt two private cards, but can also use the five community cards that are available for all the players to use. This makes a total of seven cards, but each player must choose their best five cards to make their best possible hand. Here’s an example:

In the above example, the best five cards among total of seven (two private cards and five community cards) would be combined to make a flush.

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Conclusion

If you don’t fully understand the poker hand rankings then please read through the list again. It’s vital that you know which hand beats which. Of course, how good a poker hand is, is very dependent on which type of poker game you are playing and other factors such as the number of other players you are playing against. You will learn the true strength of a poker hand as you gain experience of playing the game.

We have created a printable poker hand rankings chart that you can use as a source of reference. Hopefully we’ve explained the poker hand rankings to you well enough whereby you don’t need this chart, but it still might be handy for some. The chart will load as a PDF (link opens in a new window) and you’ll need to have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer to be able to view it.

Make sure that you memorize the poker hand rankings before moving onto the next lesson.

By Tim Ryerson

Tim is from London, England and has been playing poker since the late 1990’s. He is the ‘Editor-in-Chief’ at Pokerology.com and is responsible for all the content on the website.

Playing pocket Ace Five, Ace Four , Ace Three, and Ace Two Off Suit and Ace Five, Ace Four , Ace Three, and Ace Two Suited in Texas Hold'em Poker.

If you have been following this series, you will notice that most of the articles contain advice about only one hand. The reason I have combined all of these hands here is they are all played exactly the same way. These hands are similar because they can all make a straight and are very weak kicker wise. The great majority of the time it is correct to fold these hands, so if you have any question about whether or not it is correct to play in a particular situation, it is best to fold. The suited hands are stronger than the non-suited ones, but even they are weak because the flush will not come often enough to make them profitable in most situations. These hands require a large number of opponents to build the pot after the flop when you hit a hand. They do not play well in short handed pots; so avoid this situation at all costs. It is worth missing a few opportunities to play them when you aren't sure the situation is ideal.

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Early Position

In all but the very loosest and most passive games, all of these hands should be folded from early position. If there is any chance of a raise behind you, which there is in most games, these hands are not strong enough to enter the pot. Even in a game where five or more see every flop without a raise, it is incorrect to play the non-suited hands listed above. The suited ones are just barely playable in these games, but usually can be played because when you hit your flush the pot will tend to be very large, making up for the many times you don't win. Even in the games it is safe to enter with the suited hands, you must be disciplined enough to fold after the flop if it doesn't help you considerably. If you never play another one of these hands from early position you will most likely be a more profitable player.

Middle Position

Texas Holdem Starting Hands

Play these hands the same from middle position as from early position. If there has been a raise, the correct play is a fold.

Late Position

If there are already many players in the pot and it is unraised, you can play the suited hands from late position. Otherwise it is correct to fold them. I even fold the non-suited hands from late position in unraised pots over 95% of the time. They just aren't good enough to play.

Blind Play

Texas Holdem Hands

If the pot is not raised, I always see the flop with these hands. When the pot is raised, I will call a single bet with the suited hands, if there are many opponents. In both situations, if the flop does not help me I will get away from them to any aggression. Even when the flop contains an Ace I will fold to aggression. It is very likely that I am out kicked.