Poker Hand Rankings

Poker Handing Rankings

One of the first things you'll need to learn when first starting out playing poker are the poker hand rankings. Knowing what hands beats what is a great start so let’s take a look at all the possible 5 card hands you can make in holdem games. Remember, although you have access to 7 cards in total (your 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards) you need to make the best 5 card hand, so no 3 pairs! :)

Additional Rules

So you know the basic poker hand rankings but occasionally players will have similar hands that are the same rank, so who wins then?

Ranking High Card Hands

When both players have no pair, also known as a high card, the player with the highest card is the winner. If they both have the same highest card you look at the second highest card and so on.

So for example:

Ks Jh 8d 7c 6c beats Qh Jh 9d 3s 2s

Qh Jd 9d 3s 2s beats Qd Td 8s 3c 2h

Qh Td 8s 5c 3c beats Qh Td 7s 6c 5c

Ranking Pair Hands

Obviously when both players have a different pair, the highest pair wins. When both players have the same pair though, you look at their other cards (also known as kickers). Again high card wins and if they both have the same highest card you move onto the next highest and so on.

For example:

Kh Ks Jd Td 9c beats Kh Ks 9c 8c 7d

Kc Kd 9c 8c 7d beats Kc Ks 9c 7c 6d

Ranking Two Pair Hands

When both players have two pair, the highest pair wins. If they both have the same highest pair, the highest second pair wins. If they both have the same 2 pair hand you look at their highest card (or kicker).

For example:

Ah As 3d 3s 2c beats Qh Qs Jd Js As

Ah As Qd Qs 2c beats Ah As Jh Jd 9s

Ah As Qd Qs Tc beats Ah As Qd Qs 9c

Ranking Flush Hands

When two players have a flush, the rules are the same as when they have High Card (no pair). The player with the highest card wins, if they both have the same highest flush card, you move onto the second highest etc.

So:

Ah Jh Th 9h 3h beats Kh Jh Th 9h 3h

As Js Ts 9s 3s beats As Js Ts 8s 3s

Ah Jh Th 9h 4h beats Ah Jh Th 9h 3h

What happens when two players have a flush in different suits? Well in holdem games this is impossible as there are not enough community cards to give two different suit flushes. So there is no such thing as suit rank in holdem.

Ranking Full House Hands

When two players have a full house (which is 3 of a kind and a pair) it is the three of a kind part of the hand that is most important. If players share the same three of a kind then the pair decides who wins.

So:

8s 8c 8d 7h 7c beats 7h 7c 7d Ac As

8s 8c 8d 6c 6s beats 8s 8c 8d 4d 4h

Split Pots

When the rank of players’ hands is exactly the same, they split the pot equally. If there are several players remaining, only the players with the highest ranked hand get a share of the pot. Any players with a worse hand lose and any chips they bet are split among the winning players.