Learn The Ranking of Online Poker Hands
They are the same everywhere, but we are focusing on free online poker in this article, the following is the basic ranking of hands, from the lowest to the highest.
High card: If there is no other hand, the highest card wins. Numbers are counted by their value and after the T (from now on T) the ranking is J, Q, K and A. When it comes to other hand combinations, if the same hand is held by two players the hands follow the same order as the high card, this is a pair of J’s is higher than a pair of 8’s. If the players get the same, the higher next card called “kicker” is what determines which hand is higher, and if not, the next and it will be like that until 5 cards in total are chosen. If players still have the same hand will share the pot.
Pair: Means two cards of the same rank with three odd cards.
Two pair: Two pairs and one odd card. Pairs can not be of the same rank, for example K, K, K, K, 8 won’t be two pair, and it will be four of a kind instead.
Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank and two odd cards.
Straight: Five cards in sequence which are not of the same suit. For example 8,9,T,J,Q. The order is the same as the high card, being the Ace the first or the last card in a straight, but not the middle card. For example T, J, Q, K, A or A, 2, 3, 4, 5 will be both straights but Q, K, A, 2, 3 will be high card Ace. In case of two players holding a straight the one with the highest card on it wins, note that if the Ace is counted as a low card in the straight it is also counted as low for the kicker purposes, being the 5 the highest card instead.
Flush: Five cards of the same suit but not making a sequence (or straight) In this case the highest card into the flush determines the kicker in case of a tie.
Full house: Means three of a kind and a pair combined for a 5 card hand. For example K, K, K, 6, 6 will be a full house. If there is a tie, the player with the highest three of a kind wins, and if they have the same the higher pair will be used as kicker.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank and an odd card used as kicker.
Straight flush: Five cards in sequence and the same suit. For the purposes of the kicker the rules of the straight apply.
Royal Flush: A, K, Q, K, T of the same suit. This is the greatest hand in Poker and every player strives for it. As it is the biggest hand it has no kicker but it is impossible for two players to have a royal flush unless the royal flush is in the 5 community cards.