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Hand Ranking
What beats what?
If you´re new to the game of Poker, this article about the rankings of all the different Poker hands will raise your interest. In case you´re a little more experienced, don´t click the site away as I´m adding things you have to look out for when going up against or holding such a hand while playing Texas Hold´em.
1) Royal Flush
A straight containing A, K, Q, J and T - all in the same suit.
Going against that hand: A royal flush rarely occurs, so don´t be scared of running into one.
Holding that hand: Congratulations!
2) Straight flush
A straight being formed out of suited cards.
Going against that hand: A straight flush rarely happens but be aware when you see an open-ended straight flush draw on the board, you hold the nut-flush, you bet and one of your opponents raises.
Holding that hand: Congratulations!
3) Four of a kind
You hold all four cards of the same value.
Going against that hand: Someone holding four of a kind doesn´t happen often, but it happens. Such a hand is only possible with a pair on the board and getting more probable with trips being displayed.
Holding that hand: Congratulations!
4) Full House
Three of a kind and a pair.
Going against that hand: A Full House is only possible with a pair on the board. The probability increases with two pairs or three of a kind being displayed.
Holding that hand: A Full House is a very strong hand but you have to be aware that one of your opponents might be holding a higher one. Think about the board showing a pair of kings and a pair of jacks, in case you hold the third jack your Full House can still be beaten if one of the other players on the table holds the third king.
5) Flush
A combination of five cards that are all suited.
Going against that hand: A Flush is only possible if you find three suited cards on the board. The probability increases when a 4th suited card comes up.
Holding that hand: A great hand to own and in case you don´t see a pair on the board, you´re probably ahead especially when you hold two suited cards and the board only shows three. However, you have to take into consideration that one of the other players might be holding a higher flush, especially with four suited cards on the board: Don´t be too aggressive if you don´t hold the nut-flush and even consider folding your flush when your flush might be beaten.
6) Straight
A combination of 5 consecutive cards.
Going against that hand: A Straight is only possible once the board shows a combination of three cards with a total of 2 gaps between them. Now that sounds complicated but it isn´t. Assuming the board shows a K Q 9 4 2, the only straight-possibility exists between K, Q and 9. In order to fill out these two gaps, someone has to hold JT in order to complete a straight. Assuming the board shows K Q 8 4 2, a straight isn´t possible since the gap between K, Q and 8 rises to 3. The probability for someone having a straight increases when the board displays four consecutive cards.
Holding that hand: First, check out if you´re in danger of running into a flush or a Full House. If not, turn your attention to the possibility of someone holding a higher straight. You can feel a lot better if you need two whole-cards to complete a straight instead of just one, especially if you only complete the lower end of a straight. Despite the fact that a straight is not the best hand to own on paper, seeing if you hold “the nuts” is pretty easy in such a scenario.
7) Three of a kind
You hold three cards of the same value.
Going against that hand: Tough to see, especially when someone holds a pocket-pair and hit the third card on the board. Things might get a little more obvious when a pair occurs on the board, especially on turn or river.
Holding that hand: Even when you hold three aces, beating such a hand is not that unrealistic in case things go not your way on turn and river. So in case you flopped trips make sure you protect your hand by betting in case you see potential chance for a flush or a straight. Another aspect of holding trips is that you still have the chance to beat a straight and/or a flush by completing a Full House or by hitting the final out in order to transform your hand to a four of a kind.
8) Two pair
You hold two pair.
Going against that hand: Tough to see, too, especially when you have a lot of “un-raised company” in the pot you´re playing in. You might guess that someone hit two pair if nobody bet pre-flop, the flop looks innocent and one player starts to raise the pot extremely. One way to protect you from such a scenario is to raise the pot pre-flop in order to squeeze out as many marginal hands as you can.
Holding that hand: Don´t slow-play and be aggressive, especially when you flopped two pair without hitting the top-pair. If someone else hit top-pair, he will probably pay your bet and you´ll earn money in the long run. In case you don´t play aggressively, you give away additional cards for free, potentially allowing your opponent to complete a higher two pair himself.
9) Pair
Two cards of the same value.
Make sure you distinguish between top-pair, middle-pair and bottom-pair on the flop. If you hold a pocket-pair, check if you´re having an over- or under-pair. Holding the top-pair is a nice start but you have to check your kicker, too. If someone else seems to be interested in playing the pot just like you are, don´t be too confident about the top-pair you flopped in case you only have a poor kicker to go along with your pair.
10) High Card
If nobody hit anything, the highest card wins the pot.
The highest card might be helpful in some selected situations, especially when you only compete against one opponent and in case the board displays two (high) pairs leaving you to guess that nobody completed a Full House. Assuming that you hold AT and the board shows Kh Ks Qd Qc 2s. If you play against only one opponent and you don´t believe that your challenger hit anything, you´re probably ahead with high-card ace even if the other guy holds a pocket-pair like 88 or 99 and you didn´t hit anything.
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