Poker Hands Explained

Are you new to poker? Well, fear not; it is like most popular games: easy to grasp, but takes a lifetime to master. The rules are very simple, so here's a crash course. Poker is a very simple game based on the following premise: Players are dealt cards and bet on the strength of their available cards, with all bets accumulating in a central pot. Once all the cards are dealt and all the bets are made, the player with the best 5 card hand wins. All that changes between the different forms of poker are how many cards are dealt, whether any cards are 'communal' or shared, and whether some cards are visible to other players.

The most important thing to learn in poker is the order, or rank of the various hands. Here is a run down, with the highest ranking first. Namely, a Running Flush beats four of a kind, which beats a Full House and so on.

Running Flush/Royal Flush

This is the best hand in poker, with five cards of the same suit, with consecutive ranks (Ace can be 1 or 14). Royal flush is the highest running flush, running from 10 to Ace. If two players have a Running Flush, the highest ending hand wins.

Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank, with one other card. If two players have Four of a Kind, the highest Four wins. If both share the same Four, the highest odd card wins.

Full House

Three cards of the same rank, with a pair of a different rank. In the event of a tie, the highest set of three wins.

Flush

Five non-consecutive cards, all of the same suit. When there is a draw, the highest untied top card wins.

Straight

Five consecutively ranked cards, not all of the same suit. Highest card wins. Ace can be both high and low.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank, with two non-matching cards. The highest set of three wins, then the highest untied off card, in the event of a draw.

Two Pairs

Two cards of the same rank, with another two matching cards, different to the first pair, with an off card. The highest untied pair wins, followed by the off card.

Pair

A pair of cards with the same rank. Highest pair wins, followed by the highest untied off card.

High Card

The worst hand you can have, unfortunately. If you can't make any other hand, the highest untied card wins.