Poker Essays
Strategy, Mindset and Examples in Theory and Practice
The ranking of poker hands at the showdown
Introduction
In most poker games, the best five card combination of the cards available to you according to the rules of the respective game wins at the showdown. These can be cards that belong to you alone (typically your hole cards in Texas Hold’em Poker) or cards that can be used by all players (typically the board cards in Texas Hold’em Poker).
Each five card combination can be classified into one of the following hand strengths (from weak to strong)
| Name | winning criteria |
|---|---|
| High Card | the highest card value |
| One Pair | two cards of the same rank |
| Two Pair | four cards of two ranks |
| Set / Trips | three cards of the same rank |
| Straight | five cards of consequtive ranks |
| Flush | five cards of the same suit |
| Full House | pair + trips |
| Quads | four cards of the same rank |
| Straight Flush | five cards of the same suit and consequtive ranks |
| Royal Flush | AKQJT of the same suit |
High Card
A High Card denotes the highest card. (75432 is the weakest hand).
Pair
A pair consists of two cards of the same value. If the pair is the same, the height of the additional cards (kicker) decides.
Two Pair
Two Pair consists of 2 pairs. First the higher pair is compared, if necessary the smaller one. In case of a tie, the kicker decides.
Set / Trips
The set/trips consists of three cards of the same value. In case of a tie, the kickers decide.
Straight
The Straight consists of five cards of consecutive value, the higher the better. The Ace can be used both as the highest card in a straight (TJQKA) and the lowest card in a straight (A2345 – the so-called wheel).
Flush
The flush consists of five cards of the same suit, the higher the better.
Full House
The Full House consists of one set and one pair. First the set is scored, then the pair if required.
Quads
Quads consist of four cards with the same value. In case of a tie, the better kicker decides.
Straight Flush
The straight flush consists of a one suited straight, the higher the better. In some forms of poker, two players can hold a straight flush of different suits but of the same rank. In these cases, the hands of both players are of equal strength.
Royal Flush
The Royal Flush consists of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten of the same suit and is the strongest poker hand. In some forms of poker, two players can hold a royal flush of different suits. In these cases, the hands of both players are of equal strength.
