In poker, players form sets of five playing cards, called hands, according to the rules of the game. Each hand has a rank, which is compared against the ranks of other hands participating in the showdown to decide who wins the pot. In high games, like Texas hold ’em and seven-card stud, the highest-ranking hands win. In low games, like razz, the lowest-ranking hands win. In high-low split games, both the highest-ranking and lowest-ranking hands win, though different rules are used to rank the hi.
Poker Hand Rankings – Best Poker Hands
Royal Flush: Best possible hand in poker. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.
Straight Flush: Five cards in numerical order, all of identical suits.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, and one side card or ‘kicker’.
Full House: Three cards of the same rank, and two cards of a different, matching rank.
Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence.
Straight: A straight is made from any five cards consecutive in rank that are not all the same suit, such as 7-8-9-10-J of hearts or spades.
Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side cards.
Two Pair: Two different pairs of cards.
