Poker Hand Rankings

Poker Hands Listed by Best Hand First

Royal Flush: This is The  highest poker hand possible, a royal flush is  an Ace high straight and a flush. This is made up of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten, all of which are the same suit. If two players hold a royal flush, they split the pot.

Straight Flush: A straight flush is like a royal flush, with five cards which is a straight and flush, but its not an Ace high. An example of a straight flush is, a five, six, seven, eight and nine all of the same suit. When two players hold a straight flush, the player who has the highest card wins.

Four of a Kind: A hand which has four cards of the same rank, like four Kings or four Ace's. When two players each have a four of a kind, the highest ranked hand wins. In the event that both players hold the same four of a kind, the player with the highest fifth card called a kicker, wins the pot.

Full House: Three cards of one rank and two of another rank form a full house. Examples of full houses include three Kings and two tens or three fives and two six's. When two players have a full house, the player with the highest three of a kind wins the pot.

Flush: A flush is a hand with all five cards of the same suit, either five Hearts, Clubs, Spades or Diamonds. When two or more players each have a flush, the hand with the highest card wins. If two hands have the same highest card, the next highest card is compared.

Straight: Five cards in numerical order form a straight, like six, five, four, three and two. When two players have a straight, the one with the highest card wins. If two players have straights with the same highest card, they split the pot. Suits dont matter when determining the strength of a straight.

Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank, like three Jacks or three eights. When two players have three of a kind, the highest ranked three of a kind wins the pot. If two players have the same three of a kind, the player with the highest fourth card wins.

Two pair: A hand consisting of two cards of the same rank, in combination with two other cards of the same rank, like two tens and two sixes. When two players have two pair, the one with the highest pair wins. If two players have the same highest pair, the highest second pair wins.

One pair: Hands that contain only two cards of the same rank, like two Aces or two Jacks, with three unmatched cards have one pair. When two or more players have one pair, the highest pair wins. If two players have the same pair, the highest third card wins.

High card: A hand containing none of the combinations listed above ranks as a high card hand. When two or more players have high card hands, the highest card wins, followed by the second highest card, etc. in the case of ties. Hands are ranked from Ace down through two.

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