Standard 5 card hand rankings.

Most poker games are about who has the best hand. Except the ones that are about who has the lowest hand. But we'll get to them later.

Poker hands from highest to lowest:

1) Royal Flush - A,K,Q,J,T of the same suit. This is the mythical best possible hand in poker.

2) Straight Flush - Any other five cards in a row of the same suit, for example 2,3,4,5,6 of hearts. In case of two straight flushes, whichever one has the highest top card wins. "Six high straight flush"

3) Four of a Kind (Quads) - All four of one rank of cards and one other card, this is sometimes laid down as "two pair, one of red X and one of black X." by people who enjoy being clever. If there are two Quads, the one with higher cards in the four of a kind wins. If there are two quads of the same rank (it's possible in Holdem) then the kicker (card that's not used in the important part of the hand) is used to compare them. "Quad nines!"

4) Full House (a Boat) - Three cards of one rank and two of another. The rank of the three cards determines which full house is higher. If they are the same, then it's done on the rank of the two cards. These are referred to by the rank of the three *over* (or full of) the rank of the two - "Aces *over* eights" is AAA88. Eights full of aces is 888AA.

5) Flush - Five cards of the same suit but not in a row (which would be a straight flush). If there is more than one flush, they are compared based on their highest cards, then second highest, and so on. "Ace high flush"

6) Straight - Five cards in a row of different suits. If there is more than one straight, then whichever one has the highest top card wins. "Nine high straight"


7) Three of a kind (Set / Trips) - Three cards of the same rank. If there is more than one three of a kind, the hands are compared first on the rank of their three of a kind, then the highest kickers, then the other kickers. A set in Holdem means you have two in your hand and one on the board, trips are one in your hand and two on the board.

8) Two Pair - Two pairs of cards of different rank (for example AA 88 and one other card - the famous dead man's hand). If there are more than one Two Pair, hands are valued on the rank of their highest pair, then on the rank of their second pair, then on their kicker. Called by the higher pair *AND* lower pair, eg "Aces and Eights".

9) One Pair - Two cards of one rank, and three unmatched cards. One Pair hands are compared based on the rank of their pair, then the highest kicker, then the next highest, then the third kicker. Called by the rank of the pair "A pair of fives"

10) No pair - Five unmatched cards of different suits. No Pair hands are ranked on their highest card first, then second, and so on. Called by the highest card in the hand "I can't believe that guy called with Queen High)

Almost every mainstream poker game uses five card rankings, even if you have a choice of 7 (or 9) cards to make the hand from.

Low games are a little more complicated. Hands are compared based on the five card poker hand they make (high cards first), but the lower hand is better. In Omaha H/L and Razz, flushes and straights don't count as high, and Aces are low. In 2-7 lowball Aces are high and straights and flushes count as high. This is something you have to remember if changing between these games.

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