poker hands
In poker, players compare five card hands against each other to determine who wins. Know the order of cards, from low to high 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K) and Ace (A). The ace (A) can usually double as the lowest card when necessary. There is no ranking between the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal. Poker ranks are always based on five cards only.
Familiarize yourself with the definitions and values of different hands. The hands are in order of decreasing value:Royal flush, Straight flush, Four of a kind, Full house, Flush, Straight, Three of a kind, Two pair and One Pair. E.g. A player with a flush has a better hand than a player with a straight. The following list is from best to worst, so any hand on the list beats any hand below it and loses to any hand above it.
Royal Flush - Royal Flush: This is the most valuable hand in all of poker. A Royal Flush is composed of Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit .
Straight Flush - Straight Flush: is comprised of five cards in numerical order, all of the same suit. If there are two Straight Flushes at the table, then whichever hand's Straight Flush reaches the highest card value wins..
Four-of-a-Kind (Quads) - Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, for example four kings, plus any fifth card. As always, higher ranks are better..
Full House (Full Boat, Boat) - Full House: Three cards of the same rank, with a pair of another rank. The higher ranking three cards determine which full house beats the other..
Flush - Flush: Five cards of the same suit, regardless of their numerical rank. When comparing flushes, they are ranked from the top card on down. If two flushes have exactly the same cards, this is a tie and a pot would be split.
Straight (Run) - Straight: Five sequential cards, regardless of their suits. An Ace can be used to make either a "Broadway" straight of AKQJT or a "wheel" straight of 5432A. In a tie, whoever's Straight goes to a higher ranking card wins.
*in hold 'em, Aces can be high or low.An example of a straight where the Ace is low:
Three-of-a-Kind (Trips, Set) - Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, with two unpaired cards. As always, a higher ranked three of a kind defeats a lower ranked three of a kind. In flop games it is possible for both players to have the same three of a kind, in which case the two unrelated "kicker" cards would determine the winner. If the two hands are identical, the pot is split.
Two Pair - Two Pair. Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and a kicker of a third rank. Two hands of the same rank, split the pot.
One Pair - One Pair: Two cards of the same rank and three random cards. A higher pair defeats a lower pair. When players have the same pair, the highest kicker cards would determine the winner.
High Card - High Card: If none of the players have anything of value, the player holding the highest valued card wins, with the 2 as the lowest card, and the Ace as the highest.
Kickers
Kickers are the leftover cards after a hand is declared. They determine who wins if players have the same hand. Since not all hands have "leftovers", kickers only apply to four-of-a-kind, three-of-a-kind, two pair, one pair, and high card situations.
In texas hold 'em you always use the best combination of five cards. Since a certain amount of cards are "used up" when you declare a hand, there can only be a certain number of kickers.
Split Pots (Straights, Flushes, and Straight Flushes)
In the case of straights, flushes, and straight flushes it's simply a matter of who has the highest ranked card(s) in their straight or flush. That means there are only nine different possible five-card straights. Same goes for straight flushes (including the royal straight). In a straight the suits do not matter.
The same idea goes for flushes, except that if both players have the same high card then you compare the second highest card. If the second highest is the same you go to the third…until the five highest flush cards are compared.
Full House Situations
A full house is made up of three-of-a-kind and a pair:
When determining who wins when multiple players have a full house, you compare the rank of the three-of-a-kind. Whoever has the highest ranked set wins. If players tie for the highest ranked three-of-a-kind, then you evaluate the rank of the pair. Here are some examples...
Consider the following hand...
"Nines full of Sixes" beats "Sixes Full of Nines".
Two Pair Situations
When multiple players have two pair, you evaluate who has the highest ranked single pair first. If those tie, then evaluate the other pair. If those both tie, you use the last card as a kicker. In hold'em you have to be careful with two pair, as it can be deceptively weak.
|
