Poker is a card game that’s widely popular in casinos and online casinos worldwide. While the game may seem easy to play, it’s a game that requires a level of mastery so you can win against your opponents. In this article, we’ll take you through how to understand the hand ranking of your cards so you won’t make beginner mistakes while you’re playing.
Ranking your hand: How to win at a poker game
To begin playing poker, you’ll want to first remember the hand ranking of your cards. These hand rankings will determine if you win over your opponent or vice versa and can help you improve your skills along the way. Here is an easy way to remember the hand rankings, starting from the best to the last:
- Royal Flush: A royal flush is a hand made of cards in the sequence of A-K-J-Q-10 in the same suit. This is the best winning hand available in regular poker and the only way anyone may win you is if their royal flush is in a suit that is better than yours.
- Straight Flush: Like a royal flush, a straight flush is called when you have a hand of cards in a sequence of the same suit. In a straight flush, however, you do not necessarily have to hold cards of large numbers. For example, if you have a hand of cards in the sequence of 5-6-7-8-9 of the same suits, that will be considered a straight flush.
- Four of a kind: As its name suggests, a four of a kind hand is called when you have four cards of the same number in different suits. This may be made of any card, for instance, if you have an Ace in spade, hearts, clubs, and diamonds, then that would mean you have a four of a kind hand.
- Full house: To obtain a full house, you must hold a hand of cards containing three of kind and another pair. The combinations may be endless in a full house if you fulfill the minimum criteria. For example, if you have Q-Q-Q and a 5-5, that would make a full house hand.
- Flush: Unlike the royal flush and a straight flush, a flush simply means you have a hand of the same suit. Your number sequencing will not matter in a flush hand, so even if you have a hand of 2-4-6-8-10, but they’re all in spades, you will qualify for a flush.
- Straight: A straight hand is achieved when you have a hand of cards in a sequence. It is different from a flush in that you’re welcome to have cards of any suits, but they must be in basic sequences such as 2-3-4-5-6 or 7-8-9-10-J.
- Three of a kind: While you’re very close to achieving a full house, a three of a kind simply refers to a hand of having three of the same cards and two different ones. For easier understanding, you may assume that the three of a kind of made of a hand such as 5-5-5-7-8 cards.
- Two pair: A two pair hand is achieved when you have cards that make up doubles. For instance, having cards in the numbers 7-7 and 10-10 plus an extra card gives you a two-pair hand.
- Pair: Regardless of the number, any double cards in your hands is called a pair. To help you understand this, it’s easier to remember that any cards can be a pair even if it’s just a 3-3 or a 9-9.
- High card: In case neither players have any of the hands above, a winner in poker is determined by who has the highest cards. In a game of poker, the Ace takes on the highest number while the 2 is the lowest.
