Card strength
The first, and perhaps the most important aspect, is the need to know the strength of cards. The power of your poker hand will determine whether you win or lose during the show-downs. In poker, player wins when he either forces all his opponents to fold or when he has the strongest hand at the end. Therefore, to determine the best poker hand first it’s necessary to determine poker hands ranking. Described below are combinations of cards which are listed by their strength/ranking from top to bottom (from strongest hand at the top down to the weakest at the bottom).
The strongest hand of all - Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace suited (in the same suit). Five most senior cards in a deck in the same suit. If several players have Royal Flush combination, the pot will be equally divided among those players.
Five cards in the same suit, in order, Aces counting high or low. If several players show straight flush combination – player with the higher card wins (Ace is the highest).
All four cards of the same value. In Texas Hold'em, if several players show four of a kind combination – player with the highest side card ("kicker"). Kicker is a card in player's hand, which itself was not used in combination, but it determines the winner when the hands are equal.
Five cards of the same suit, in any order. If several players show flush, the player with the highest card wins.
Five cards in order in any suits. Ace can be used as the highest card (10-J-Q-K-A), or as the smallest (A-2-3-4-5).
Three cards of the same value – also known as “Set”. In Texas Hold'em, where several players show the same “Set”, the hand with the highest “kicker” wins. Kicker is a card in player's hand, which itself was not used in combination, but it determines the winner when the hands are equal.
A pair of cards of one value together with a pair of cards of another value. If several players show the same higher pair, the player with the second higher pair wins. If the smaller pair is the same, the player with the highest kicker wins.
A Pair is two cards of the same value. If several players show the same pair, the player with highest kicker wins.
If players have none of the combinations listed above, the winning player is the one with the highest card.
Royal Flush
The strongest hand of all - Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace suited (in the same suit). Five most senior cards in a deck in the same suit. If several players have Royal Flush combination, the pot will be equally divided among those players.
Straight Flush
Five cards in the same suit, in order, Aces counting high or low. If several players show straight flush combination – player with the higher card wins (Ace is the highest).
Four of a Kind
All four cards of the same value. In Texas Hold'em, if several players show four of a kind combination – player with the highest side card ("kicker"). Kicker is a card in player's hand, which itself was not used in combination, but it determines the winner when the hands are equal.
Full House
The combination of three cards of same value and a pair. If several players have Full House, the winning hand will be with the higher trio (three cards of same value). In flop games, where several players show a Full House, the winning hand is the one with a higher pair.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, in any order. If several players show flush, the player with the highest card wins.
Straight
Five cards in order in any suits. Ace can be used as the highest card (10-J-Q-K-A), or as the smallest (A-2-3-4-5).
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same value – also known as “Set”. In Texas Hold'em, where several players show the same “Set”, the hand with the highest “kicker” wins. Kicker is a card in player's hand, which itself was not used in combination, but it determines the winner when the hands are equal.
Two Pair
A pair of cards of one value together with a pair of cards of another value. If several players show the same higher pair, the player with the second higher pair wins. If the smaller pair is the same, the player with the highest kicker wins.
One Pair
A Pair is two cards of the same value. If several players show the same pair, the player with highest kicker wins.
High Card
If players have none of the combinations listed above, the winning player is the one with the highest card.
