How a Poker Hand Ranks

Feeling puzzled by all the different poker hands? Below you will find a list of poker hands, from one pair to a royal straight flush.

ROYAL STRAIGHT FLUSH

Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit.

STRAIGHT FLUSH

Straight with all five cards in the same suit.

FOUR OF A KIND

Four of a kind is next highest. It consists of the four cards of any one rank together with any fifth card; for example constitute four sevens.

FULL HOUSE

A full house ranks next; it consists of any three of one kind and any pair of another kind, such as:

It is referred to by the three-of-a-kind it contains; the example shown would be "sixes full."

FLUSH

A flush, ranking next; it consists of any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence, such as:

This is referred to as a "Queen high flush."

STRAIGHT

A straight consists of any five cards of two or more suits in sequence of rank, with the ace ranking either high in sequence

or low in the sequence. One does not need to have an ace to have a straight, of course:

any five cards in a row will do.

THREE OF A KIND

Three of a kind are any three cards of the same rank plus two other cards which do not constitute a pair and do not include the fourth card of the same rank:

This would be referred to as "three nines." Or "trip nines."

TWO PAIR

Two pair, which ranks next under three of a kind, consists of two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and any fifth card which is neither of those ranks; it is referred to by the higher of the two pairs. Thus,

would be "Queens up."

ONE PAIR

One pair – any two cards of the same rank, together with three other cards which do not combine with the other two to form any of the higher-ranking hands above:

is a pair of kings.

TIES AND KICKERS

Poker is all about making the best five-card hand from the seven or nine available (five community cards and your own two hole cards in Texas Hold'em, five community cards and your own four hole cards in Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo). That means in the event of a tie with four of a kind, three of a kind, two pair, one pair or high card, a side card or "kicker" comes into play to decide who wins the pot.

Example

Player A has two pair with 10s and 6s and a Queen as the fifth card. Player B has also two pair with 10s and 6s but a 4 as the fifth card. In this case, player A wins with a Queen "kicker."

With a three of a kind, one pair or high-card tie, a second, third or even fourth kicker could come into play to decide the pot. If the kickers can’t decide one overall winner, those players involved will have to share the pot.