Overview of Poker Hands: The Order of Poker Rankings Explained.

Discover the Poker Hands: We present the hierarchy of hands in poker. This ranking applies to the most popular variations like Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Draw. Familiarize yourself with the poker hands and their respective values.

If you're looking for the best poker hands instead, you've come to the right place with our article on the top 10 poker starting hands. For more fascinating insights into poker, check out our comprehensive guide to poker rules, packed with all the tips beginners need.

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Download the PDF here to get the overview of the ranking of poker hands.

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The poker hands ranked from highest to lowest:

1. Royal Flush

2. Straight Flush

3. Four of a Kind

4. Full House

5. Flush

6. StraÃŸe (Straight)

7. Drilling (A Trio)

8. Two sets of couples

9. Paair (Pair)

10. High Card

Continue reading: The Top 10 Poker Starting Hands.

Get an overview of poker hands: Here you will find the order of hands in poker. This ranking applies to the most important game variants such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Draw. Familiarize yourself with the poker hands and their values.

If, instead, you are looking for the best poker hands, then our article on the top 10 poker starting hands is just right for you. You can find more intriguing details about poker in our guide to poker rules, which includes all the tips for beginners.

Continue to: The Top 10 Poker Starting Hands

Download als PDF

Download the PDF here for the ranking overview of poker hands.

Download PDF here Download Poker Hands as a PDF file.

Explained: The Hands in Poker

Although you have up to seven cards available in each round of Texas Hold'em, your hand will always consist of the best five out of those seven cards. In total, there are 10 different poker hands, which are evaluated in a predetermined order according to the rules of poker. Below, we will explain the ranking and composition of the various poker hands.

1. Royal Flush

The Royal Flush is the highest and strongest hand in the ranking of poker hands. It consists of a straight in one suit (spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs), which means five consecutive cards starting from 10 and ending with the Ace. Therefore, it represents the pinnacle of poker excellence, showcasing both skill and luck in achieving this rare combination. The Royal Flush is a symbol of triumph and prestige among poker players, as it guarantees victory and leaves opponents in awe. Mastering the art of obtaining a Royal Flush is a goal that many aspire to, as it requires a combination of strategy, intuition, and nerve. So, if luck is on your side and you find yourself holding a Royal Flush, brace yourself for an exhilarating victory that will be etched in poker history.

2. Straight Flush

The second strongest poker hand is the straight flush. A straight flush is comprised of a sequence in the same suit (clubs, spades, hearts, or diamonds), thus consisting of five consecutive cards. If two or more players have a straight flush, the player with the highest cards emerges victorious.

3. Quadruple

A Vierling or Poker is formed by four cards of the same value, such as four Kings, and is considered the third strongest poker hand. If two or more players have a Vierling, the one with the highest value wins. In the event that two or more players have an identical Vierling, which requires all four matching cards to be in the middle, the fifth card determines the winner.

4. Full House

The Full House is the fourth strongest hand in poker. It comprises of a pair and a three-of-a-kind. When two or more players have a Full House, the three-of-a-kind is compared first. The higher three-of-a-kind wins. If the three-of-a-kind is also the same, the higher pair wins.

5. Flush

The flush holds a greater value than a straight in poker. To achieve a flush, a player must have five cards of the same suit, be it spades, clubs, hearts, or diamonds. In the event that two players both have a flush, the higher-ranking cards determine the winner.

6. StraÃŸe

A triplet can be beaten by the next highest hand, a sequence called a straight in poker jargon. A straight is formed by five consecutive cards. In the case of two or more players having a straight, the highest straight, which includes the highest card, wins. The ace is a special card in straights. It can complete a straight as either the lowest card, as in A-2-3-4-5, or as the highest card, as in 10-J-Q-K-A.

7. Drilling

A triplet is composed of three cards with the same value. If two players have the same triplet, the higher and then the second highest side card determines the winner.

8. Two pairs

The next higher combination is two pairs. When two or more players have two pairs, the highest pair is compared first. If it is a pair of the same value, the next smaller pair is compared. If this is also the same, the fifth card is the deciding factor as a side card.

9. Couple

The second highest poker hand is a pair. A pair consists of two cards with the same value (e.g. ace, queen, or 10). In variations like Texas Hold'em, a hand is composed of five cards, so the side cards, also known as "kickers" in technical terms, can make a difference. The kickers are compared in the event that two or more players have the same pair, starting with the highest kicker.

10. Highest card

If a player hasn't even made a pair, their highest card is counted as the "high card." The best high card, of course, is an ace. If two or more players at the showdown have only a high card, it will be compared. If they have the same high card, they will compare their remaining cards among themselves, starting with the highest one. The player with the higher cards wins.

What happens in the case of a tie?

As we have previously outlined in the hierarchy of individual poker hands, when two or more players possess an equivalent hand, the kicker is utilized as the determining factor. In the event of a tie, where players' hands are of equal value, the kicker comes into play to establish the superior hand.

Example:

If there is a monarch amidst the community cards on the table, and the three players who have made it to the showdown each hold a king, thus possessing a pair, and there is no hand with a higher value in play, the next highest card will be evaluated.

In this instance, you emerge victorious in the pot due to the presence of your ace as a side card, bestowing upon you the highest-ranking card. This is attributed to the fact that the other players' kickers are merely a jack or a 10 from the center of the table.

Should a genuine tie occur, meaning all three community cards have the same value for a pair, for instance, when two or three players hold a king and an ace in their hand, the pot will be evenly divided among all players who hold the best poker hand in that round.

Other game variations, card colors, and additional features.

Poker enthusiasts are in luck. In addition to the globally popular Texas Hold'em, there are numerous other poker variants that promise a lot of fun and excitement, such as Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Five Card Draw, 7 Card Stud, 5 Card Stud, H.O.R.S.E, or Badugi. What almost all poker variants have in common is the ranking of poker hands. In most variants, except for stud games, the different suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades) do not have any ranking. However, in stud games, the poker hierarchy also follows the ranking of suits based on the alphabetical order of suits in English. From bottom to top: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.