In the world of poker, understanding hand rankings is essential for every player seeking success at the tables. Mastering the hierarchy of poker hands can significantly impact decision-making and overall gameplay, providing players with a solid foundation for strategic play and maximizing their chances of winning.
Poker hands from highest to lowest
In poker, hands are ranked from the highest to the lowest based on their strength, and the order is as follows: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card. A Royal Flush consists of A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit, making it the most powerful hand, while the High Card is the lowest-ranking hand when no other hand can be formed. Read on to learn more about some of these individual hands and relevant statistics.
Two pairs
In the game, “Two Pair” is a hand ranking that consists of two pairs of cards of the same rank, along with a fifth card that does not match the rank of the pairs. It falls in the hierarchy of poker hands below Three of a Kind and above One Pair. Two Pair is a moderately strong hand, and its strength is determined by the rank of the two pairs.
For example, if a player has two 8s and two 4s in their hand, and the community cards on the board are 9-8-4-7-2, the player would have Two Pair, with a pair of 8s and a pair of 4s. The fifth card (7 in this case) is known as the “kicker.” If multiple players have Two Pair hands, the winner is determined by comparing the rank of the higher pair first. If two players have the same highest pair, then the rank of the second pair is considered. If both pairs are the same, the player with the highest kicker wins the hand. If the kicker is also the same, the pot is split among the tying players.
Two Pair hands can be strong in certain situations, especially in games like Texas Hold’em or Omaha. However, they can be vulnerable to higher-ranked hands like Three of a Kind, a Full House, or better.
Four of a kind
A “Four of a Kind” is a powerful hand ranking that consists of four cards of the same rank and one additional card (known as the kicker) that does not match the rank of the four cards. Four of a Kind is ranked higher than Full House and below a Straight Flush. It is considered one of the strongest hands in most poker variants.
For example, if a player holds four 7s and the community cards on the board are 7-7-3-10-2, the player has Four of a Kind with 7s. The kicker (the fifth card) is irrelevant in this case since it does not affect the strength of the hand. When multiple players have Four of a Kind, the winner is determined by comparing the ranks of the four cards. The player with the highest rank for the four cards wins the pot. In rare cases where two players have the same four-card rank, the fifth card (kicker) comes into play, and the player with the highest kicker takes the pot. If the kicker is also the same, the pot is split among the tying players.
Four of a Kind is a hand that rarely occurs, especially in games with a standard 52-card deck. When a player does have this hand, it is usually a winning hand, and they can expect to win a substantial pot, especially if the betting is aggressive.
Straight flush
A “Straight Flush” is one of the most powerful and rare hands that a player can achieve. It is a combination of two poker hands: a “Straight” and a “Flush.” A Straight is a sequence of five consecutive cards of any suit, while a Flush is a hand with five cards of the same suit, not necessarily in sequence.
To form a Straight Flush, a player must have five consecutive cards of the same suit. The highest-ranking Straight Flush is the Royal Flush, which consists of the A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit. The Royal Flush is the best possible hand in poker and is extremely rare.
For example, if a player holds 8-9-10-J-Q of hearts, they have a Straight Flush. This is a strong hand and can win many pots in a poker game. When comparing Straight Flushes, the one with the highest card in the sequence wins. For instance, a Straight Flush from 5 to 9 would lose to a Straight Flush from 6 to 10.
Due to its rarity, a Straight Flush is a cause for excitement at the poker table. When a player has this hand, they usually bet aggressively to try and maximize their winnings. However, players should still be cautious of their opponents potentially having a higher-ranked Straight Flush or other strong hands like a Royal Flush.
Poker Hands Probability
The probability of achieving different poker hands depends on the total number of possible combinations in a game and the specific hand rankings. In standard poker games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, there are a total of 2,598,960 unique five-card poker hands possible.
A Straight Flush, which is a combination of five consecutive cards of the same suit, has a probability of 0.00139%. There are 36 possible Straight Flushes, and it’s essential to note that the Royal Flush is a subset of Straight Flushes.
Next is the Four of a Kind hand, consisting of four cards of the same rank. It has a probability of 0.0240%, and there are 624 possible Four of a Kind hands, each representing a different rank.
A Full House, comprising three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, has a probability of 0.1441%. There are 3,744 possible Full House hands.
The Flush, consisting of five cards of the same suit, not in consecutive order, has a probability of 0.1965%, with 5,108 possible Flush hands.
The Straight, a combination of five consecutive cards of different suits, has a probability of 0.3925%. There are 10,200 possible Straight hands.
Three of a Kind, featuring three cards of the same rank, has a probability of 2.1128%, and there are 54,912 possible Three of a Kind hands.
Two Pair, comprising two sets of cards of the same rank, has a probability of 4.7539%. There are 123,552 possible Two Pair hands.
One Pair, having two cards of the same rank, is relatively more common, with a probability of 42.2569%. There are 1,098,240 possible One Pair hands.
Finally, the most frequent poker hand is the High Card, which occurs when a hand doesn’t fall into any of the above categories. Its value is determined by the highest card in the hand. The High Card hand has a probability of 50.1177%, making it the most likely outcome in a poker game.
Popular Variations of Poker
There are numerous popular variations of poker, each offering its own unique rules and gameplay that add excitement and challenges to the game. Among these variants are some of the most well-known poker games played worldwide:
- Texas Hold’em: One of the most widely played poker variants, Texas Hold’em captivates players with its simplicity and strategic depth. In this game, each player is dealt two private hole cards, and five community cards are revealed on the board. Players aim to create the best five-card hand using any combination of their hole cards and the community cards.
- Omaha: Similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha is played with four hole cards dealt to each player. However, players must use exactly two of their hole cards and three of the community cards to make their best hand. This variation often leads to stronger hands and more action compared to Hold’em.
- Seven Card Stud: In Seven Card Stud, each player receives seven cards, with three cards face down and four cards face up. Players use the best five-card combination from their seven cards to compete for the pot, making it a game of skill and observation.
FAQs
Which Poker Starting Hands Should You Play?
When deciding which poker starting hands to play, it’s crucial to consider your position at the table, your opponents’ tendencies, and your own skill level. Generally, strong starting hands like high pairs (e.g., A-A, K-K), high cards of the same suit (e.g., A-K suited), and consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., Q-J suited) are worth playing, especially in early and middle positions. In contrast, weak starting hands with little potential for improvement, like low unconnected cards or mismatched cards, are best to fold, especially when facing aggressive opponents.
Winning Poker Hands: What Is the Best Hand in Poker?
The best hand in poker is the “Royal Flush.” A Royal Flush is a straight flush consisting of the five highest cards in succession, specifically A, K, Q, J, and 10, all of the same suit. It is the rarest and most powerful hand in poker, guaranteeing victory in almost any situation.
What are the odds of getting a royal flush?
The odds of getting a Royal Flush in poker are approximately 1 in 649,739 or about 0.000154%.
