Poker Hands

The card combinations in poker may be confusing since there are many combinations possible. For novice poker players, the following is important information to improve in a poker game.

The Royal Flush is the top ranking hand in poker and consists of the five highest cards in any of the four suits. For instance, having the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of Clubs.

The second best hand in poker is a straight flush. A straight flush consists of the same suit in chronological order. There are at most 36 possible straight flush combinations. The highest of these in poker is the King, Queen, Jack, Ten and Nine of any suits.

The four of a kind in poker suggests having all cards of the same value and suits and an odd card. For instance, you may have the eight of clubs, hearts, diamonds and spades plus a five of hearts.

The full house in poker is composed of three cards of one value combined with two of another. The highest full house is having three Aces and two Kings. The lowest in poker is having three 2's and two 3's.

The flush is having same-suit cards but not in any sequence.

The straight or run in poker is a series of five cards in a mixture of suits. The ace can count high or low. So having the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of different suits is called a top rank Ace-high straight.

Three of a kind in poker is simply three cards of the same rank plus two odd cards.

Two pair is a common hand in poker comprising two cards of one value, two cards of another value and an odd card termed as the "kicker"

One pair is simply two cards of the same value plus any other three odd cards. The value of the pair determines the strength of the hand in poker.

The high card is a hand containing five assorted cards without even a pair. Competing hands in poker are ranked according to their highest card.

It is also worth remembering that if the kind of poker being played includes wild cards, then an additional hand of "five of a kind" can come to play.

Five of a kind is usually ranked below a royal flush and above the straight flush in Poker. Similarly, be clear on whether a royal flush incorporating wild cards is equal or inferior to a natural royal flush. Ask the house rules first on this before playing poker to avoid future disputes.