The Basics

The winning of hands in poker is based on the ranking of the cards. When two or more hands turn up as being in the same category, the winning hand is determined by the ranking of the cards. For example, there might be two players who are both holding four of a kind. In that case the hand with the highest ranking would win, such as four Jacks beating four eights.

Cards are ranked in the following order (descending):

ACE, KING, QUEEN, JACK, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

In poker all suits have equal rank.

A ROYAL FLUSH, which is the best possible straight flush, is sometimes considered as a separate category. When you are holding five cards that are all of the same suit and in consecutive order, you have a Straight Flush. When you have five cards that are all of the same suit descending consecutively from the Ace, in the order of A-K-Q-J-10, you have a Royal Flush. When you have a Straight, and this also refers to a Straight Flush, the you can also play the Ace low. So, if you are holding for instance 5-4-3-2-A, and they are all of the same suit, you have a Straight Flush. In this case the highest card is a 5 and can be beat by a 6 high straight flush such as 6-5-4-3-2 of the same suit. This is true even though the first hand includes an Ace. It is the highest high card that determines rankings and winning hands, when you are holding a Straight Flush.

2. FOUR-OF-KIND .

An example might be a hand containing 3-3-3-3-Q. When there are two hands that both have four of a kind the deciding hand is the one with the highest four cards of the same ranking, rather than the odd card.

3. FULL HOUSE .

Three-of-a-Kind plus a pair. It is the ranking of the Three-of-a-Kind that determines the relative ranking rather than the pair.

4. FLUSH .

Five cards that are all of the same suit. When there are two or more hands that are all holding a flush, the hands with the highest ranking cards is the winner. If the highest ranking card also ties the other hand, than the second ranking card determines the winner and so on. For example, if you are holding A-J-9-4-3 of Hearts you would beat a hand with A-J-8-7-6 of Spades.

5. STRAIGHT .

When you have five cards that are in consecutive order you have a straight. An example would be Q-J-10-9-8. When there are two or more hands with straights the hand with the highest ranking top cards is the winner. In the case that both hands have the identical ranking cards, than the hand result in a drawn.

6. THREE-OF-A-KIND .

When there are more than one player holding Three-of-a-Kind, the ranking of the three matched cards is used to determine the winner.

7. TWO PAIR .

If there are two or more players holding Two Pair it’s the highest Pair that determines the winner. If both players hold the same ranking high pair it is the second pair that decides the winner. It is the higher ranking second pair that decides which hand is the winner. For example, if two players hold the hands 9-9-8-8-4 and 9-9-5-5-A, then the first hand would win. In the case that both pairs are tied, it's the remaining unpaired card that decides who the winner is. In this case an 8-8-4-4-8 would beat 8-8-4-4-3.

8. ONE PAIR .

When two players both are holding Pairs, it is the higher Pair that wins. In the case that both of the pairs are the same, it is the highest ranked remaining cards that determines the winner, on down to the last card when necessary. For example, A-A-K-5-2 beats A-A-Q-J-9 and K-K-9-8-4 beats a hand holding K-K-9-8-3.

9. NO PAIR .

When there is no winning pair winners are decided by the simple ranking of the cards. Therefore, A-7-6-4-2 would beat K-Q-J-10-6 and a hand holding Q-8-7-5-3 beats Q-8-7-5-2.

In the rare event that poker hands end up tied, and the hand is considered as being a draw, the pot is divided evenly between the winners.