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5 Card Poker Hand

Home > Official Texas Holdem Rules > Poker Hand Rankings

Standard Texas Holdem Hand Rankings: A hand in Texas Holdem consists of five cards. The following shows how hands are listed from worst to best:

High Card

When you are unable to make a hand, your highest card determines the winning hand. In the example, Ace is the highest card

Pair

A pair are two cards of the same rank. A pair beats a "high card". If more than one player has a pair, the highest pair wins. In the example, Kings are paired up.

Two Pair

Two pairs consist of, of you guessed it, two pairs. If multiple players have two pairs, the player with the highest ranking pair takes the pot. The example shows two pairs of fives and queens.

Three of a Kind

Three of a kind consists of three cards of the same rank/number. Three of a kind, also known as a "set" or "trips", beats two pairs, pairs, and high card poker hands. The example shows a set of Aces.

Straight

A straight are 5 numeric cards in sequential order. Ace could be high or low; A2345 or 10JQKA, but not wrapped like QKA23. The example shows a 6 to 10 high straight.

Flush

A flush are 5 cards all of the same suit. All suits remain equally ranked. So when multiple players have a flush, the player with the highest card within the suited hand wins. The example displays an Ace high flush.

Full House

A full house, also known as a "boat", consists of three cards of one rank, and a pair of cards of another rank. Bascically a "set" combined with a "pair". If multiple players have full house hands, the players will compare whos three of a kind is higher. And if there three of a kind are the same, then compare their pair. The example shows Tens full of Jacks.

Four of Kind

Four of a kind is self explanatory; when you have four cards of the same rank you have four of a kind, also known as quads.

Straight Flush

A straight flush are five cards in sequential order and the same suit. A combination of a straight and a flush, hence the name straight flush. The example shows a seven high straight flush.

Royal Flush

An extremely rare sight to see, a royal flush consists of a Ten to Ace straight all of the same suit. Basically, a Ace high straight flush.

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