Poker basics
Poker hand rankings
In Texas Hold'em your hand is the best five cards out of your two hole cards and the five community cards. These are the ten possible hands, from the strongest to the weakest.
1.Royal flush
A, K, Q, J and 10, all of the same suit. The best hand in poker.
A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
2.Straight flush
Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. Between two straight flushes, the higher top card wins.
9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
3.Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank. The fifth card (the kicker) breaks ties.
Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ 7♦
4.Full house
Three cards of one rank plus a pair of another. The three of a kind decides first, then the pair.
K♥ K♦ K♠ 4♣ 4♥
5.Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. Compare the highest card, then the next, and so on.
A♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 2♦
6.Straight
Five cards in sequence of different suits. The ace can be high (10-J-Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3-4-5, the lowest straight).
10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣
7.Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank, plus two unrelated cards.
7♠ 7♥ 7♦ K♣ 2♠
8.Two pair
Two cards of one rank and two of another. The higher pair decides first, then the lower pair, then the kicker.
J♥ J♣ 5♦ 5♠ A♠
9.One pair
Two cards of the same rank. If two players have the same pair, the highest side cards decide.
10♠ 10♥ A♦ 8♣ 3♥
10.High card
No combination: the hand is worth its highest card, then the next ones.
A♥ J♦ 9♠ 6♣ 3♦
Ties and kickers
- Only five cards count. Cards outside the best five never break a tie.
- When two hands have the same rank, compare the cards that make the hand first and then the remaining cards (kickers), from the highest down.
- Suits never break a tie. If the best five cards are equal, the pot is split.
- If the best hand is on the board (the five community cards), every player still in the hand splits the pot.