When playing hold'em poker the idea of the game is to make the best hand of 5 cards you can by using all of the cards that are available to you. There are ten different types of hands you can make; these "hands" are also the same for other card games. Here are the ten possible hands you can make; they are listed in order of rank.



The Royal Flush

In poker this is the best hand you can get. It is a combination of the 5 highest cards. This would be 10, jack, queen, king and ace all of the same suit. In holdem poker it is possible for two players to have this hand at any one time, in this case they would tie and the pot is split between the players.









The straight flush

This is the next best hand to a royal flush; once again the cards must all be of the same suit and in running numerical order. The highest possible straight flush you can have would be a King straight. This would be 9, 10, jack, queen, king. The player with the highest flush wins, and in the case of two players having the same cards the pot is split between them.



Four of a Kind

This is fairly self-explanatory, any four cards of the same number, for example 4 queens. If two or more players have 4 of a kind the player with the highest cards is the winner, for example four 6's would beat four 2's, Aces are counted as the high cards.



A Full House

Any three cards of the same value and a pair of matching cards is a full house. This is three of one and two of the other for example 3 kings and 2 eights. If one or more player has a full house the outcome is decided by who ever has the highest three of a kind.



A Flush

A flush consists of any five cards of the same suit in none running order. If one or more players has a flush the winner is the person with the highest card, an Ace flush is the highest you can get. If one or more players has the exact same high card it can sometimes goes to your next highest card.



A Straight

Any five cards in a consecutive running order, aces can be used as both high or low cards. The person with the highest card is the winner. Once again in case of two or more players having the same hand the pot is split.



Three of a Kind

Any three cards of the same face value for example three kings or three sevens.



Two Pair

Any two sets of paired cards, for example, 2 kings and 2 fours. If two players hands have the same high pair, the second pair then decides it. If both pairs are the same, the player with the highest card wins.



Pair

Any two cards of the same face value.



High Card

Finally if no other hand is possible the highest card wins, ace is counted as a high card.

By: Andy Fullard

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