Poker Hands
Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and nerve that is becoming more and more popular across Africa, from lively home games to the exciting online tables. To win at poker, you first need to know the language of the cards. This guide provides a simple and clear ranking of all the poker hands, from the unbeatable Royal Flush down to a simple High Card. Learning this list is the first and most important step to becoming a confident poker player.
Poker Hand Rankings (from Strongest to Weakest)
Here are the official hand rankings for the most popular poker variants like Texas Hold’em, from best to worst.
1. Royal Flush
The best possible hand in poker. It is unbeatable.
- What it is: The Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10, all of the same suit.
- Example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
2. Straight Flush
The second-strongest hand. It is a very rare and powerful hand.
- What it is: Five cards in numerical sequence, all of the same suit.
- Example: 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
3. Four of a Kind
Also known as “quads,” this is a fantastic hand.
- What it is: Four cards of the same rank (e.g., four Aces or four 7s).
- Example: K♣ K♦ K♥ K♠ 5♦
4. Full House
A very strong hand that combines a pair with three of a kind.
- What it is: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
- Example: J♠ J♦ J♥ 8♣ 8♠ (This is called “Jacks full of Eights”).
5. Flush
A strong hand where all your cards share the same suit.
- What it is: Any five cards of the same suit, but not in a numerical sequence.
- Example: K♦ 10♦ 8♦ 5♦ 3♦
6. Straight
A good hand with five cards in a row.
- What it is: Five cards in numerical sequence, but with different suits.
- Example: 7♠ 6♥ 5♦ 4♣ 3♠ (Ace can be high or low for a straight).
7. Three of a Kind
Also known as a “set” or “trips.”
- What it is: Three cards of the same rank.
- Example: 9♦ 9♥ 9♣ K♠ 4♥
8. Two Pair
A common and decent hand.
- What it is: Two different pairs of cards.
- Example: A♣ A♥ 6♦ 6♠ Q♥
9. One Pair
A very common hand and often the winning hand in many games.
- What it is: Two cards of the same rank.
- Example: 10♠ 10♦ K♣ 7♦ 2♥
10. High Card
If no player has any of the hands above, the winner is the person with the highest single card.
- What it is: Your hand is valued by your highest card (Ace is the highest, 2 is the lowest).
- Example: If you have A♣ K♦ 9♠ 8♥ 4♥, you have an “Ace-high” hand.
Memorizing this hand ranking is the foundation of all good poker strategy. Once you know that a Full House beats a Flush, and a Straight beats Three of a Kind, you can start to make smarter decisions at the table. So keep this guide handy, practice recognizing the hands, and good luck in your journey to mastering this incredible game.
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