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What Are Poker Hands Called?

Poker is a popular card game that combines skill, strategy, and chance. One of the most fundamental aspects of the game is understanding poker hands. Poker hands determine the strength of a player’s hand relative to others. They are ranked in a fixed order, and each hand has a specific value depending on its combination of cards.

The Basics of Poker Hands

A standard poker hand consists of five cards, and the goal is to form the highest-ranking combination. There are several variations of poker, but most of them, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud, use the same hand rankings. The hands are ranked from highest to lowest as follows:

#1 Royal Flush

The highest hand in poker is the Royal Flush, a rare and unbeatable combination. It consists of the five highest cards of the same suit: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten (A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠). This hand is incredibly difficult to achieve, with a probability of about 1 in 650,000.

#2 Straight Flush

A Straight Flush is a hand where all five cards are in sequence, and they must all be of the same suit. For example, a 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ is a Straight Flush. If two players have a Straight Flush, the one with the highest top card wins. A Royal Flush is a specific type of Straight Flush with the highest possible cards.

#3 Four of a Kind

Four of a Kind, also known as Quads, consists of four cards of the same rank. An example would be 7♦ 7♠ 7♣ 7♥ 3♠. The fifth card, called the “kicker,” determines the winner if two players have Four of a Kind. For instance, 7♦ 7♠ 7♣ 7♥ 3♠ would beat 7♠ 7♣ 7♦ 7♥ 2♠.

#4 Full House

A Full House is made up of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, 8♠ 8♣ 8♦ 4♥ 4♠ is a Full House. In the case of a tie, the player with the higher three-of-a-kind portion wins. So, 8♠ 8♣ 8♦ 4♥ 4♠ would beat 7♠ 7♣ 7♦ 4♥ 4♠.

#5 Flush

A Flush consists of five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. For example, 2♣ 5♣ 8♣ J♣ K♣ is a Flush. If two players have a Flush, the one with the highest card wins. If both players have the same highest card, the second-highest card is compared, and so on.

#6 Straight

A Straight is a hand that contains five consecutive cards of any suit, like 5♠ 6♦ 7♣ 8♠ 9♠. In the case of a tie between two players with a Straight, the one with the highest top card wins. Aces can be used either high (above a King) or low (below a 2), so an Ace-2-3-4-5 combination is also a Straight, called a “wheel.”

#7 Three of a Kind

Three of a Kind, or a Set, consists of three cards of the same rank. For example, 9♠ 9♦ 9♣ 5♥ 2♠. If two players have Three of a Kind, the one with the higher set of threes wins.

#8 Two Pair

Two Pair consists of two different pairs, along with one extra card. For example, 4♠ 4♣ 8♠ 8♦ 3♠ is Two Pair. If two players have Two Pair, the player with the highest pair wins. If the highest pair is the same, the second pair is compared.

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#9 One Pair

One Pair is a hand where there are two cards of the same rank, such as 5♠ 5♦ 9♣ 7♥ 2♠. If two players have One Pair, the highest kicker (the next highest card) determines the winner.

#10 High Card

The lowest possible hand is the High Card, which is not made by any of the above hands. For example, K♠ Q♣ 10♠ 6♦ 3♠ would be a High Card hand, with the King being the highest card. If two players have High Card hands, the next highest card is used to break the tie.

Understanding poker hands and their rankings is essential to becoming a successful player. The better you are at recognizing and evaluating the strength of your hand compared to others, the more strategic decisions you can make. Whether you’re aiming for a Royal Flush or simply trying to make the best use of a single Pair, mastering poker hands is the foundation of playing the game well.

Gutshot Magazine provides all relevant information about poker, real money gaming, and the gaming industry. From winners lists to news and updates from corporate and governance that would impact the industry, we have it all. 

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