Poker Hands @ Poker-Play.com

Besides not knowing whether somebody is really bluffing or not, the most confounding aspect of poker is not being able to determine which hand has the highest rank, especially when none of the players can agree.  That's why at ......(insert domain name)   we have made a point in ridding poker games of confusion and uncertainty.  We know how to play poker, and we know how to play it well!  

The following content lists all the possible poker hands from highest to lowest rank.  Feel free to print it from your computer, so that it is readily available when you are playing a hand of poker.  That way, you will always be certain of who gets to take home the pot!  

Straight Flush - This hand is of any consecutively sequenced cards of the same suit.  I.e.  A hand with a King of Clubs, Ace of Clubs, 2 of Clubs, 3 of Clubs, 4 of Clubs.  The word 'straight' refers to the cards being in consecutive ranking order, while the word 'flush' refers to the cards being of the same suit.  Since this is the greatest natural hand, no wild cards can be used in conjunction with it.  If there are more than one straight flushes in a game, the winner is determined by the rank of the card at the high end of the flush.  I.e. A  3, 4, 5, 6, 7 flush of clubs beats a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 flush of diamonds because the high card of 7 beats the high end card of 6.  This is precisely why a Royal Flush is the highest possible hand in poker - Its high card is an Ace.  I.e.  A royal flush would be a 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit.                                    

Four of a kind - This is a poker hand with four cards of the same rank.  I.e. a hand with a 10 of Hearts, 10 of Diamonds, 10 of Clubs, 10 of Spades and any other odd card.  This is the second greatest poker hand.  If there is more than one 'four of a kind' in the same game, the hand with the highest four card rank wins.  

Full house - This is a poker hand with three cards of the same rank and two cards of the same rank.  I.e. A full house would be a 9 of Clubs, 9 of Hearts, 9 of Spades, Jack of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds.  It does not matter what suit the cards are, for the suit has no relevance in determining rank.  A tie between two 'full house' poker hands is broken by the rank of the 'three pair' since there can never be two 'three pairs' of the same rank. The higher 'three of a kind' rank wins the pot. The rank of the 'two pair' makes no difference to the value of the hand.  

Flush - A poker hand with all five cards of the same suit.  I.e. A hand with a 2 of Hearts, 4 of Hearts, 6 of Hearts, 7 of Hearts, Jack of Hearts.  The cards need not be in any consecutive order for the the hand to be a flush.  If they were in order, (and of the same rank) then the hand would be a straight flush - the highest hand in poker.  Keep in mind that just because the cards are the same color, does not mean they are of the same suit.  If there is more than one flush in a game, the winner is determined by the high card.  I.e. A hand with a 3, 5, 9, 10, King beats a hand with a 3, 5, 9, 10, Queen because the high card of King beats the high card of Queen.                   

Straight - This is a poker hand with all five cards being in consecutive order.  I.e. A hand with a 6 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, 8 of Hearts, 9 of Spades, 10 of Clubs.  The cards need not be of the same suit for the hand to be a 'straight'.  Like the 'flush' if the cards were of the same suit (and in proper sequence) then it would be a 'straight flush'.  One thing to keep in mind is that 'straights' cannot wrap around the deck - In other words, a Jack, Queen, King, Ace, 2 is not a straight because the hand 'wraps around' by going from Ace to 2.   A tie between two 'straights' is broken by the highest end card.  I.e. a 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 beats a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 since the high card of 9 is greater than the high card of 6.  Being that it is possible for two 'straights' to have the same end card rank, the pot is split if such is the case. 

Three of a Kind - A poker hand with three cards of the same rank.  I.e. a hand with a 9 of Hearts, 9 of Spades, 9 of Diamonds, and two odd cards is a 'three of a kind'.  The higher card rank of the 'three pair' determines the winner if there is more than one 'three of a kind'.

Two Pair - A poker hand with two cards of the same rank, another pair of cards of equal rank and any unmatched fifth card.  I.e. a hand with a Jack of Spades, Jack of Clubs, 3 of Hearts, 3 of Clubs and one unmatched card is a 'two pair'. The higher card value of a 'two pair' determines the winner if there is more than one 'two pair' in a game.  If the higher pair is equal between hands, then the higher rank of the other pair is used to break the tie.  If that pair is equal in rank as well, then the highest of the unmatched fifth cards is used to determine a winner.  

Pair - One pair of cards of the same rank constitutes a pair.

High Card - When a poker hand contains no pairs, and is not a straight or a flush, its relative value is equated  by the highest ranking card. When neither of the players have no pairs, straights, or flushes, the winner of the game is determined by the highest ranking card in the hand. If the highest cards also tie, the tie is broken by the second highest card, and so on.  Remember,  card suits are not used to break ties in poker.