Poker players make hands of five cards according to the game’s rules which vary depending on which form of poker one is playing. With the help of a ranking system which is standard across all forms of poker games, these hands are compared. The player who holds the highest-ranking hand wins a particular deal in most forms of poker. In some others, the lowest-ranking hand either wins or ties. These hand rankings are not only used in poker but also in other card games like poker dice.

To increase the ranking of a particular hand, several cards of the same card rank can be increased either by taking all five cards from the same suit or all five cards from consecutive rank. The rankings of various categories of hands are based on the odds of a player being randomly dealt hands such as these from a well-shuffled pack of cards.

A 52-pack of cards contains individual cards whose rankings range from high to low, such as: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Between suits there is no ranking at all, so there is no difference of ranking between the King of Hearts and the King of Spades.

As you know, a poker hand comprises five cards. The hand categories are listed ranging from the highest to the lowest. A hand in the higher category beats a hand from the lower category. Between hands in one category, the rank of individual cards decides the better card.

When a player’s cards exceed five and he chooses five to make a poker hand, his remaining cards are not part of any ranking, because poker ranks are based on five cards alone.

In poker, some combinations of cards or hands are better ranked than certain others, based on the frequency of appearance of these combinations.

Given below are typical poker hand rankings:

Royal Flush: These are the five highest cards, beginning from 10 and going on to the Ace, of the same suit. An ace-high straight flush, if two people have royal flushes, it leads to a tie.

Straight Flush: This refers to any five cards belonging to the same suit in consecutive and numerical sequence.

Four of a Kind: These are four cards belonging to the same denomination.

Full House: A Full House is a term for any three cards belonging to the same denomination, plus any pair belonging to a different denomination.

Flush: These are any five non-consecutive cards belonging to the same suit.

Straight: These are any five consecutive cards of mixed suits. Here, the Ace could be high or low.

Three of a Kind: These are three cards belonging to the same denomination.

Two Pair: This refers to any two cards belonging to the same denomination, plus any two cards of the same denomination.

Pair: This refers to any two cards belonging to the same denomination.

High Card: If the player does not make any other hand, the highest card he holds wins.