One of
the most confusing things for any new poker player is the order of hand
rankings. The poker hands listed below are ranked from the Royal Flush (highest)
to the High Card (lowest). These hand rankings are generally consistent
throughout every variation of online poker.
Royal
Flush
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten all
in the same suit.
If two or more Royal Flushes exist at showdown, the pot is
split.
Straight Flush
Five
cards in numerical sequence all in the same suit.
Tied Hand: If two or more
Straight Flush exist at showdown, the highest ranked card at the top of the
sequence wins the pot. If two or more identical sequences exist, the pot is
split.
Four of
a Kind
Four cards
of the same rank with fifth card being the highest eligible card.
Tied Hand:
If two or more Four of a Kinds exist in a hand, the highest four of a kind wins.
Games played with community cards where players have the same four of a kind,
the highest fifth card by rank (kicker) wins. If the kicker is also of the same
rank, the pot is split.
Full
House
Three cards of
matching rank with two cards of different matching rank.
Tied Hand: If two
or more Full Houses exist at showdown, the highest three matching cards wins.
Games played with community cards where players have the same three matching
cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins. If the hands are
identical in rank, the pot is split.
Flush
Five cards of matching
suit.
Tied Hand: If two or more Flushes exist in a hand, the player holding
the Flush with the highest ranked card is the winner. When necessary, the
second, third, fourth or fifth highest cards are used to break a tie. If two or
more exactly ranked flush hands exist, the pot is split.
Straight
Five cards in
ranked sequence.
Tied Hand: If two or more Straights exist at showdown, the
player holding the Straight with the highest ranked card is the winner. If two
or more exactly ranked straights exist, the pot is split.
Three
of a kind
Three cards
of matching rank with two cards of different ranks.
Tied Hand: If two or more
Three of a Kinds exist at showdown, the highest Three of a Kind wins. Games
played with community cards where players have the same three matching cards,
the highest ranked fourth (or fifth when necessary) card wins. If the hands are
identical in rank, the pot is split.
Two
Pair
Two cards of
matching rank with two additional cards of a different matching rank. The fifth
card is an unrelated rank.
Tied Hand: If two or more players have Two Pairs
at showdown, the highest pair wins. If the highest pair is the same rank, the
highest second pair wins. If both pairs are identical, the highest fifth card by
rank (kicker) wins. If the kicker is also of the same rank, the pot is
split.
One
Pair
Two cards of
matching rank with three additional cards of unrelated ranks.
Tied Hand: If
two or more players have One Pair at showdown, the highest pair by rank wins. If
pairs of the same rank exist, the highest ranked unrelated card wins. The second
and third highest ranked unrelated cards are used when necessary. If the hands
are identical in rank, the pot is split.
High
Card
Five cards that
are not of the same suit, are not ranked sequentially and uniquely
ranked.
Tied Hand: If two or more players have High Card at showdown, the
highest ranked card wins. The second, third, fourth and fifth highest ranked
cards are used when necessary. If the hands are identical in rank, the pot is
split.