Scoring Poker Hands
This article will help you with the ranking of poker hands. The highest ranking poker hand will be at the top and to the lowest ranking poker hand at the bottom. Each poker hand beats any poker hand below it in this list.
Should two people have the same type of hand; suits do not determine the winner. The winner is determined by the highest card, or cards, held in the hand.
STRAIGHT FLUSH: This hand is when all 5 cards are of the same suit and in sequence. For example; the 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 of spades would be an example of a straight flush. If you place an Ace with face cards, the Ace is high. Should you place the Ace with a sequence of the 5, 4, 3,2, and Ace – it makes it the lowest hand in a straight flush.
FOUR OF A KIND: When you have four cards of the same rank, all in different suits, this is a four of a kind. You will have one other card as well, since you are dealing with five cards in a hand. The fifth card really does not count for anything.
FULL HOUSE: The cards you are holding for this rank, will consist of three of a kind and a pair. Aces are always high in this rank as you cannot place them with other cards to determine their value.
FLUSH: This hand will consist of any five cards of the same suit (diamonds, hearts, clubs or spades). They do not have to be in sequence.
STRAIGHT: When you have a straight, this will be five cards in sequence, but not the same suit. The placement of the Ace follows the rules in a straight flush. The other cards the Ace is with determines its value. No suit is dominant over another.
THREE OF A KIND: Just like it says - three cards of the same rank. The two other cards do not match. If they do, you have a Full House.
TWO PAIR: Two pairs of cards of any two ranks. Check to make sure you do not have a Four of a Kind or a Full House before settling for two pairs.
ONE PAIR: One pair of cards with three other cards. Make sure you cannot turn the one pair into something better before settling.
HIGH CARD: If you do not have any other ranking of cards, you may have to settle for high card in your hand. Aces are high.
Should two people have the same type of hand; suits do not determine the winner. The winner is determined by the highest card, or cards, held in the hand.
STRAIGHT FLUSH: This hand is when all 5 cards are of the same suit and in sequence. For example; the 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 of spades would be an example of a straight flush. If you place an Ace with face cards, the Ace is high. Should you place the Ace with a sequence of the 5, 4, 3,2, and Ace – it makes it the lowest hand in a straight flush.
FOUR OF A KIND: When you have four cards of the same rank, all in different suits, this is a four of a kind. You will have one other card as well, since you are dealing with five cards in a hand. The fifth card really does not count for anything.
FULL HOUSE: The cards you are holding for this rank, will consist of three of a kind and a pair. Aces are always high in this rank as you cannot place them with other cards to determine their value.
FLUSH: This hand will consist of any five cards of the same suit (diamonds, hearts, clubs or spades). They do not have to be in sequence.
STRAIGHT: When you have a straight, this will be five cards in sequence, but not the same suit. The placement of the Ace follows the rules in a straight flush. The other cards the Ace is with determines its value. No suit is dominant over another.
THREE OF A KIND: Just like it says - three cards of the same rank. The two other cards do not match. If they do, you have a Full House.
TWO PAIR: Two pairs of cards of any two ranks. Check to make sure you do not have a Four of a Kind or a Full House before settling for two pairs.
ONE PAIR: One pair of cards with three other cards. Make sure you cannot turn the one pair into something better before settling.
HIGH CARD: If you do not have any other ranking of cards, you may have to settle for high card in your hand. Aces are high.
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