Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and psychology. While mastering the psychological aspect and developing your own strategies take time, understanding the basic hand rankings is crucial for any poker player. Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or any other popular poker variant online, knowing which hands are stronger than others is the foundation of your success. In this online poker cheat sheet, we’ll break down the essential hand rankings to help you make informed decisions at the virtual poker table situs slot.
- High Card
At the bottom of the poker hand hierarchy is the high card. This is the simplest hand and consists of five cards that do not form any recognizable poker hand combination. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest single card wins. If both players have the same high card, the next highest card is compared, and so on until a winner is determined.
Example: A hand with cards 2, 4, 7, 9, and Ace (with Ace being the high card).
- One Pair
A one pair hand consists of two cards of the same rank, along with three unrelated cards. If two players have one pair, the player with the higher pair wins. If both players have the same pair, the player with the highest unrelated card (kicker) wins. In cases of a tie with the same pair and kicker, the second kicker is compared, and so on.
Example: A hand with two 8s and three unrelated cards.
- Two Pair
A two pair hand includes two sets of pairs, along with an unrelated fifth card. The player with the highest pair wins, and if two players have the same highest pair, the second pair is considered. If both players have the same two pairs, the player with the highest unrelated card wins.
Example: A hand with two 6s and two 10s, along with an unrelated 3.
- Three of a Kind
A three of a kind hand consists of three cards of the same rank and two unrelated cards. The player with the higher set of three wins. In case of a tie with the same three of a kind, the players’ unrelated cards are compared.
Example: A hand with three Jacks and two unrelated cards.
- Straight
A straight is a hand where all five cards are in consecutive order. The suit does not matter in this case, and an Ace can be used as the highest card (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5) or as the lowest card (10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace). In the event of a tie, the player with the highest top card in their straight wins.
Example: A hand with cards 7, 8, 9, 10, and Jack.
- Flush
A flush is a hand where all five cards belong to the same suit, but they are not in consecutive order. If two players have a flush, the player with the highest card in their flush wins. If the highest cards are the same, the second-highest card is compared, and so on.
Example: A hand with cards 2, 5, 7, 10, and Ace, all of the same suit.
- Full House
A full house consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. The player with the higher three-card set wins. If two players have the same three-card set, the player with the higher pair wins.
Example: A hand with three Kings and two 4s.
- Four of a Kind
A four of a kind hand includes four cards of the same rank and one unrelated card. The player with the higher four-card set wins. In extremely rare cases, two players might have the same four of a kind. In this scenario, the player with the higher unrelated card (kicker) wins.
Example: A hand with four Queens and one 9.
- Straight Flush
A straight flush combines the characteristics of both a straight and a flush, consisting of five consecutive cards of the same suit. The player with the highest top card in their straight flush wins.
Example: A hand with cards 7, 8, 9, 10, and Jack, all of the same suit.
- Royal Flush
The royal flush is the highest-ranking hand in poker and consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10, all of the same suit. It is an unbeatable hand and guarantees a win if played correctly.
Example: A hand with Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of hearts.