Select Poker

There are certainly lots of options when it comes to playing poker. You can play poker in a land based casino, you can play poker online, or you can have a few friends over and play. There are also many online poker variations to choose from, such as Texas Hold'Em poker, Omaha poker, or Caribbean poker. The offer may be wide, but the strength of your poker hand is ranked the same in all these online poker variations.

It is very important to know how strong your poker hand is. After all, the best poker hand will win the game and the player will be awarded the pot.

Below you will find a detailed and comprehensive list of all the possible poker hand rankings that you may get during an online poker game. I have started with the elusive straight flush and moved on to the weakest poker hand.

- Royal flush;

The only poker hand that can beat a straight flush is a royal flush. A royal flush refers to when you have been dealt a 10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace of clubs.

- Straight flush;

This is the strongest possible poker hand. It combines the elements of a straight and a flush. A straight refers to when you have been dealt 5 consecutive ranking cards and a flush refers to when you have been dealt 5 cards of the same suit. In conclusion a straight flush is when you have been dealt 5 consecutive ranking cards of the same suit.

A straight flush will beat four of a kind. If both players have a straight flush, the high card determines the winner.

- Four of a kind;

This refers to when you have been dealt four cards of the same denomination, such as 7-7-7-7. Four of a kind will beat a full house. If two players have four of a kind, the higher denomination four of a kind will win. So our 7-7-7-7 will be beat by a 9-9-9-9. But if both players have the same four of a kind, the kicker or the fifth card determines the outcome.

- Full house;

This refers to when you have been dealt three of a kind and a one pair, such as 5-5-5-8-8. A full house will beat a flush. If two players have a full house, the highest ranking three of a kind wins. In the eventuality that both players have the same three of a kind, the outcome is determined by the one pair. So our 5-5-5-8-8 will win over a 5-5-5-6-6.

- Flush;

This refers to when you have been dealt 5 cards of the same suit. They need not be in consecutive order as long as they are of the same suit. A flush will beat a straight. If two players have a flush, the winner will be determined according to the high card. If both players have the same high card, the next high denomination card determines who wins the hand.

- Straight;

This refers to when you have been dealt 5 consecutive ranking cards of different suits, such as 2-3-4-5-6. A straight beats three of a kind. If two players have a straight, the winner will be determined according to the high card. So our example 2-3-4-5-6 will be beat by a 3-4-5-6-7.

- Three of a kind;

This refers to when you have been dealt 3 cards of the same denomination, such as Jack-Jack-Jack. Three of a kind beats two pair.

- Two pair;

This refers to when you have been dealt two pairs, such as Ace-Ace and Queen-Queen. Two pair beats one pair. If you opponent also has two pair, the player holding the higher ranking pair will win.

Your Ace-Ace and Queen-Queen will beat a 5-5 and 3-3. If the other player also has a pair of Aces, the winner is determined according to the other pair or “kicker”. If the other player has an Ace-Ace and Jack-Jack, you will win.

- One pair;

This refers to when you have been dealt two cards of the same denomination, such as Queen-Queen, or Ace-Ace. One pair will always beat a high card.

- No-pair or high card;

This is the worst possible poker hand. Let’s say that you have been dealt a Queen and a 7. This means that you have a “Queen high”. Professional poker players call this hand “garbage” because you have little to no chance of winning.

Your Queen high will beat a Jack high. If the other player also has a Queen high, the next high denomination card determines who wins the hand. Say the other player has a Queen and a 9. In this case you have lost.

One of the most promising high card poker hands is Ace-King. This is known as Big Slick.

If you are a beginner poker player, then forget about complicated poker strategies and poker betting techniques. Start with poker basics and work your way up. That is why you must learn these rankings by heart. You have to know how strong your hand is, and determine how strong your opponents hands could be, and how likely they are to hold a better hand than you.

Remember that in some online poker games there is a time limit. You must make up your mind quickly, and make the best decision. Personally, sometimes I forget whether a full house beats a flush or vice versa. That is why you must memorize these poker hand rankings before even thinking about playing poker.