Well, let’s talk about Poker Hands. Before we start, let me remind you that Poker is a 5-card game. I know sometimes you will play in games that have 7 cards or 9 cards or whatever, but never forget that you always use only five cards to make your best poker hand. These five card hands are compared using a standard ranking system, and the player with the highest-ranking hand wins that particular round.

Don’t panic, it’s simple! For example, if my adversary and I both have one pair, then whoever’s pair is higher wins. If my opponent and I both have a straight, whoever’s straight is higher wins. In the event of a tie, let’s say a pair of aces, you always look at all five cards for the tiebreaker. When calculating poker hands, remember that the strength of the hand is increased by having multiple cards of the same value, all the cards being from the same suit or having all the cards with consecutive values (in sequence).

Don’t worry, the poker rules are very simple, this ranking or hierarchy of poker hands determines the winner, with the Royal Flush being the highest poker hand.

Another important thing to know is that there are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the cards from high to low is: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no ranking between the suits – so for example the king of hearts and the king of diamonds are equal.

To make your life easier, we have included pictures of poker hands so you can see how each hand looks like.

Have a look bellow:

Hierarchy of Poker Hands

1. Royal Flush

An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten in the same suit

In case of a tie: Two or more Royal Flushes split the pot

2. Straight Flush

Five cards in sequence of the same suit

In case of a tie: Highest rank at the top of the sequence wins

3. Four of a kind or “fours”

Four cards of the same rank with one unmatched card

In case of a tie: Highest four of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same four of a kind, the highest fifth side card (“kicker”) wins

4. Full house

Three cards of the same rank and two cards of a different but matching rank

In case of a tie: Highest three matching cards wins the pot. In community card games where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins

5. Flush

Five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence

In the event of a tie: The player holding the highest ranked card wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest, and fifth-highest cards can be used to break the tie

6. Straight

Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit

In case of a tie: Highest-ranking card at the top of the sequence wins

7. Three of a kind or “threes”

Three cards of the same rank and two unmatched cards

In case of a tie: Highest ranking three of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same three of a kind, the highest side card, and if necessary, the second-highest side card wins

8. Two pairs

Two cards of the same rank, another two cards of a different matching rank and one unmatched card

In case of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have identical pairs, highest side card wins

9. One pair

Two cards of the same rank and three unmatched cards

In case of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest side card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest side card can be used to break the tie

10. High card

Five unmatched cards

In case of a tie: Highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie

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