Poker hand rankings, best to worst
| # | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
| 2 | Straight flush | 9♥︎ 8♥︎ 7♥︎ 6♥︎ 5♥︎ |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Q♣ Q♦︎ Q♥︎ Q♠ 3♦︎ |
| 4 | Full house | 8♠ 8♦︎ 8♥︎ K♣ K♠ |
| 5 | Flush | A♦︎ J♦︎ 9♦︎ 6♦︎ 2♦︎ |
| 6 | Straight | 10♣ 9♦︎ 8♠ 7♥︎ 6♣ |
| 7 | Three of a kind | 7♠ 7♥︎ 7♦︎ K♣ 2♠ |
| 8 | Two pair | J♥︎ J♣ 4♦︎ 4♠ A♥︎ |
| 9 | One pair | 10♠ 10♥︎ K♦︎ 6♣ 3♠ |
| 10 | High card | A♣ Q♦︎ 8♠ 5♥︎ 2♣ |
The ace can be high or low in a straight (A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest straight), but straights don't wrap round. Suits never rank.
How a hand goes
- Blinds: the two players left of the dealer button post the small and big blind.
- Pre-flop: everyone gets two cards face down, then there is a round of betting.
- Flop: three community cards are dealt face up. Betting round.
- Turn: a fourth community card. Betting round.
- River: the fifth and last community card. Final betting round.
- Showdown: players still in show their cards. The best five-card hand from any of their seven cards wins.
Your betting options
- Fold: give up your hand.
- Check: pass if nobody has bet.
- Call: match the current bet.
- Bet or raise: put in more chips. In no-limit, you can go all in at any time.
Tips
- Play fewer hands, but play them strongly. Pairs and high cards of the same suit are good starts.
- Position matters: acting last lets you see what everyone else does first.
- Watch the board. Four cards of one suit means anyone may have a flush.
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