Your Guide to Poker Hand Rankings, From Top to Bottom

 Your Guide to Poker Hand Rankings, From Top to Bottom

You are lucky because it's Saturday night and you're sitting at the table of poker with your friends. You want to see a hand that finishes with the first or second place on this list. However, the rest of this list might work in a pinch, and they could be winners depending on what everybody else has, or more specifically, what everyone else thinks your hands are.

These 10 hands are listed in order of strength. The list assumes that there are no jokers and wild cards being used. Kenny Rogers sang, "You have got to know when it's okay to hold 'em, and when it's time to let 'em go." This list should assist you in following his advice.

The royal straight flush occurs when you have 10-JQ-K-A in one hand, and the same suit. This is the highest possible hand, so there is no bluffing. If you're a good bluffer you might smile brightly and immediately realize that you don't have it. It might appear to your opponents that you might have this in your hand, even if it isn't.

Even if you do have it, there is no way you can be poker-faced.

This hand can contain any five cards from the same suit. While it may not bring the adrenaline rush of a Royal Flush, it's still a reliable winner.

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Ranking the Winning Poker Hands

03

10

Four of a Kind

Four of a sort means that you have four of the same cards, such 8-8-8-8-8-8, with possibly a random 5 or some other card thrown in for your fifth. This is not a bad hand. If you're a skilled bluffer and can convince others to fold, you could easily win the pot.

04

10

Full House

This is any three-of-a-kind plus a pair of cards, such as K-10-10-3-3-3-3 or KK-K-2-2-2. It is a solid hand that is as strong as it gets.

05

Minimum 10

Flush

Your five cards are all of the same suit. However, they are not necessarily in order. You could, for example, hold the 2-4-7-7 J-K of spades. Although this might cause your heart to pound, it also has some competition.

06

10

Straight

A straight is any combination of five cards ordered in a particular order (e.g. 3-4-5-6-7). They don’t all have to be the same suit. You can do better. Even on a very bad night, it might still look quite good.

07

Take 10

Three of a Kind

These are three cards with the same number or rank as each other, such a 6-6-6 or QQ-Q. If you had QQ-Q-2-3 you would have three of one kind. This might be worth it to stay in the game.

08

More than 10

Two Pair

Two cards are of the same number or rank as each other, such that 5-5-4-4-4. Two pairs are possible if you have both a pair sevens and one pair nines. This is not a great hand. Although it's not thrilling, this hand could be a winner if Lady Luck favors you. How to Know If You Have the Best Poker Hands