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Poker Hands and Ranking

Poker has many variants but they all follow the standard ranking of hands. The hands and their ranking are as follows:

1. Straight Flush

This means five cards in correct sequence, all of the same suit. The highest straight flush is called the royal flush, made of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and ten of any suit. The Ace can also be used as the lowest card in a hand of five, four, three, two, Ace. This is the lowest possible straight flush. Straight flushes are ranked according to the value of the lead card.

2. Four of a Kind

This means four cards of the same rank and any other card. Four of a kind hands are ranked according to the value of the first four cards first before the single card. The highest possible combination is Ace, Ace, Ace, Ace, King. The lowest combination is two, two, two, two, three.

3. Full House

This means three cards of the same rank and two cards of the same rank. Full house hands are ranked according to the value of the first three cards first before the next two cards. The highest full house is Ace, Ace, Ace, King, King. The lowest possible fullhouse is two, two, two, three, three.

4. Flush

This means five cards of the same suit regardless of rank. Flush hands are ranked according to the value of the lead card and the succeeding cards in order. For example, a hand comprised of the Ace, Queen, ten, five, two beats a hand comprised of the Ace, Queen, nine, seven, six.

5. Straight

This means five cards in correct sequence regardless of suit. Straight hands are ranked according to the value of the lead card. The highest possible combination is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, ten. The lowest combination is five, four, three, two, Ace.

6. Three of a Kind

This means three cards of the same rank and two different cards of any other rank. Three of a kind hands are ranked according to the value of the first three cards first, then of the fourth card before the fifth card. The highest possible combination is Ace, Ace, Ace, King, Queen. The lowest is two, two, two, three, four.

7. Two Pair

This mean two pairs of two cards of the same rank and any other card of a different rank. Two pair hands are ranked according to the value of the first pair before the second pair, then the last card. The highest possible combination is Ace, Ace, King, King, Queen. The lowest is two, two, three, three, four.

8. One Pair

This means two cards of the same rank and three cards of different ranks. One pair hands are ranked according to the value of the pair followed by the value of the succeeding cards. The highest possible combination is Ace, Ace, King, Queen, Jack. The lowest is two, two, three, four, five.

9. High Card

This mean any hand of no particular combination of ranks or suits. Hands are ranked according to the value of the highest card.

It is important to know the hand rankings when learning how to play any variant of poker.