The Hands Used in Texas Holdem Poker

The Hand Rankings are the most basic element of Texas Holdem poker and is the first thing that you need to learn before starting to play. They are the same as in other common poker games such as Omaha, 7 card stud, and Draw Poker.

There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the individual cards, from high to low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no ranking between the suits - for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal.

These are the standard five-card poker hands, ranked in order of strength, from the strongest hand to the weakest.

Royal Flush - the best possible hand

Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

Any five-card sequence in the same suit (e.g.: 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen of clubs; or 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of diamonds).

Four of a Kind

All four cards of the same value (e.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8; or Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen).

Full House

Three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g.: 10, 10, 10 with 6, 6; or King, King, King with 5, 5).

Flush

Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (e.g.: 4, 5, 7, 10 and King of spades).

Straight

Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (e.g.: 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds, 10 of spades and Jack of hearts).

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same value (e.g.: 3, 3, 3; or Jack, Jack, Jack).

Two Pair

Two separate pairs (e.g.: 2, 2, Queen, Queen).

Pair

Two cards of the same value (e.g.: 7, 7).

High Card


If a hand contains none of the above combinations, it's valued by the highest card in it.