These are important questions to ask if you are just starting to play online poker. Because, as a player, you must have your poker hand rankings pat.
Understanding and recognizing different poker sequences and poker hand rankings is crucial for evaluating the strength of a hand and making strategic decisions during gameplay.
What is a poker hand or a poker sequence?
It’s important to note that poker sequences are ranked according to their rarity and strength. The higher the poker sequence, the less likely it is to occur, making it more valuable. Understanding the hierarchy of poker sequences allows players to assess the relative strength of their hands and make informed decisions during betting and gameplay.
Mastering the concept of poker sequences is a fundamental aspect of becoming a skilled poker player. It involves recognizing different sequences, understanding their rankings, and applying this knowledge strategically in various poker variants. By analyzing the sequences within their hand and considering the possibilities of sequences among their opponents, players can gain a significant advantage in poker.
Poker card rankings are ordered on their probability of occurring. For example, getting a Royal Flush has the lowest probability (.000154%, or odds of 1: 649739) while getting a High Card has the highest probability (50.1177%, and almost even odds of 1:.995)
Knowing poker hand rankings inside out is important, as is having a good hand in a game. But winning in poker often comes down to skill. The hand you are dealt is a matter of chance. What you do with it is a matter of expertise. That’s why old hands at poker say: “Don’t play your cards, play the table.”
Royal Flush
Royal Flush
The Royal Flush is the best poker hand you can have on a gaming table. If you hold an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit (all of them should be spades or hearts or diamonds or clubs), then you have got a Royal Flush. This is the rarest of poker hands with odds of it occurring once in 649,737 times. The Royal Flush is the best Straight Flush and is the leader among poker hand hierarchy.
Straight Flush
Straight Flush
The Straight Flush is the second strongest poker hand. It’s a continuous poker sequence of five cards of the same suit – for example, a 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6. As we mentioned earlier, if two players hold the same category of poker hands, the High Card makes the difference. For example, a Straight Flush of J, 10, 9, 8, 7 beats a Straight Flush of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6. Odds: 1 in 72,193.
Four of a Kind
Four of a Kind
Weighing in next is Four of a Kind. On this hand, you hold four cards of the same rank – four Aces or four 10s or four 2s with one other card of a different rank. For example, four aces and an 8 (AAAA8) or four 10s and K. As mentioned earlier, card rank becomes decisive if two players hold the same hand — four aces beat four kings, and four 3s trumps four 2s. Odds: 1:4164
Full House
Full House
Coming in fourth is the Full House is a combination of Three of a Kind (AAA) with a pair (KK). A hand-holding AAAKK is the biggest Full House possible. This poker hand is also called Aces Full of Kings. Sometimes ties occur in a Full House. Here’s how a Full House tie-breaker is applied: If two players hold a Full House, then the one holding the higher triple wins. If both players hold the same triple, the one holding the higher pair wins. If both players hold the same triple and pair, it’s a tie and the pot is split. For further clarity look at the following hands: Player 1: QQQ33 (queens full of threes) Player 2: JJJAA (jacks full of aces) In the above, player 1 takes the pot since he has the higher triple (Queens full of 3s is better than Jacks full of aces). Player 1: QQQ33 Player 2: QQQ22 In this case too, player 1 wins because while the triple is tied, he holds the higher pair (Queens full of 3s better than Queens full of 2s). Odds: 1:693
Flush
Flush
The Flush stands fifth in the Poker Hand hierarchy. If you hold five non-consecutive cards of the same suit, you have a Flush. For example, an A, 10, 9, 8, 7 of hearts is a Flush, just as a K, J, 8, 6, 5 of clubs is a Flush. If two players have a Flush, the High Card breaks the tie. In the case where two players have the same High Card, then the second-highest card breaks the tie, and so on. Odds: 1:508
Straight
Straight
A Straight is not the same as a Straight Flush. In a Straight Flush, you hold consecutive cards of the same suit. In a Straight, you hold consecutive cards of different suits. In this poker hand ranking, an ace-high Straight is the highest possible in online poker. The lowest possible straight is a five-high straight as seen in the example. Straights are sixth in hand order. Odds: 1:253
Three of a Kind
Three of a Kind
Poker hands with three cards of the same rank are Three of a Kind and rank seventh in order. Our example shows three aces, with a king and a queen as side cards — the best possible Three of a Kind. If two people have the same Three of a Kind, the side cards determine the winner. Odds: 1:46
Two-pair
Two-pair
Two Pairs comes in eighth. If you have two cards of the same rank paired with another set of two cards of the same rank with a kicker card, you are holding Two Pairs – for example, AAKK7. In a tie, the one holding the higher pair wins. If both hold the same high pair, the rank of the second pair is used to break the tie. If even that is tied, then the kicker card makes the difference. For example, here are some pairs ordered by rank: 1. AAKK7 2. AAKK6 3. AAQQ10 4. KKQQA Odds: 1:20.
One Pair
One Pair
If you have two cards of the same poker hand hierarchy and three other random cards, you are holding One Pair, which is ninth in poker hand rankings. For example, AAKQJ is the highest One Pair you can get. Odds: 1:1.36
High-card
High-card
If you have none of the nine hands above, you probably are holding just a High Card. In poker hand rankings, this is the lowest possible. Among High Cards, the ace is highest and 7 the lowest. In fact, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 is the lowest poker hand you can ever get. Odds: 1:99 Most of these poker hand rankings and rules apply to five-card poker especially its most popular variant – Texas Hold’em Now that you know your poker card rankings, it’s time to test out your knowledge. You can try your hand at playing a real poker game from the several options we have for you on our website or app, including exciting tournaments that are suitable for beginners as well as experts. There’s no better way to learn online poker than on a live table.
ONLINE POKER FAQ
The article above has listed the poker hand rankings and the rank of cards (ace high to five high). Just remember the following:
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One Pair beats High Card
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Two Pair beats One Pair
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Three of a Kind beats Two Pair
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Straight beats Three of a Kind
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Flush beats Straight
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Full House beats Flush
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Four of a Kind beats Full House
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Straight Flush beats Four of a Kind
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Royal Flush beats a Straight Flush
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No poker hand sequence can beat the Royal Flush.
Can a Flush be beaten by a Straight?
This is a common misunderstanding among beginners to Texas Hold’em. A Flush, meaning cards of the same suit, always beats a Straight, meaning cards of different suits that have a poker sequence to them. However, a Straight Flush, meaning poker hand order that has cards of the same suit in a sequence beats both a Flush and a Straight.
Are red and black colors more dominant in poker?
No, the color of your suit does not matter. What matters is the poker hand order and the card rank.
Are all suits equal?
In many card games, some suits are stronger than others. But in poker, all suits are equal — be it spades or diamonds, hearts or clubs. We hope you are now clear about all the poker hand rankings and poker card rankings. It’s time to get started on your playing journey. If you need help with that, visit our How to Play Poker page to prepare yourself for our many game rooms and tournaments.
What is a poker sequence?
Poker is a game of chance as much as skill. The Royal Flush is the highest, followed by a Straight Flush. The third-highest hand is “4 of a Kind.” A Full House is the next best hand, followed by a Flush.