Poker hands, Ranked

In poker, you will get a lot of different hands, and if you're just starting to learn the game, it is imperative you study the ranking of cards first. The highest of them all, or the best hand in poker, is the royal flush. It consists of 10 to ace, all of same suit. The royal flush is the rarest and most powerful hand in poker, and it is called as such because it is made up of the highest cards.

Following closely is the straight flush. It is the same with Royal Flush because all the cards are suited, only the five cards making up the straight do not need to be from 10 to ace.

Ranked the third best poker hand is the four-of-a-kind. You have this when you own four cards of one type. For example, you have four 9's or four aces.

Following next is a full house. A full house in poker is also rare, but not as rare as the royal flush, the straight flush or four-of-a-kind. If you have a three-of- a-kind, say three kings, and a pair, say two 7's, then you have a full house. If there is more than one full house in the poker table, then the highest three-of-a-kind of the full house wins.

Fifth in rank is the flush. When you have five cards of same suit, but not in succession, then you have a flush. When there are more than one flush in the poker game, then, the one with the highest card wins.

Next is the straight. This occurs in poker when you have five cards in succession. Like the flush, this occurs commonly in poker games because they are easy to form.

Ranked 7th is the three-of-a-kind. This happens you have three cards of a single type.

Two Pair would be eighth in ranking in poker hands. In poker, it is easy to get this type of hand, so to compare in case there is more than one in play, the one with the highest pair wins. For example, two aces and two 3's will beat 2 kings and 2 jacks.

The common one pair follows the two pair in ranking. If there is more than hand of this type in play, compare the kickers, or extra cards.

High card ranks the lowest in poker. Even if you have an ace high, you can easily be beaten by a pair of 4's.

Poker is not only about having the best hand. If you do not know how to play that hand, then even the weakest will beat you. Poker is about playing your strengths, and even your weaknesses. In any poker game a high card hand can still win, if the owner knows how to bluff and make the straights and full houses fold.