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Poker Hand Ranks to boost your knowledge of the game

Poker is easy to learn but takes a lifetime to master. You can probably learn poker online or read a book about it, but that doesn’t make you a winner. It takes real skill and expertise to overcome your opponent and cash in the massive prize pool. The sport has its own language and if you are new to this side of the world, learning the poker vocabulary and hand ranks will greatly improve your knowledge of the game.

What are Poker hands?

A poker hand consists of five cards of any suit. In the 52 deck card, there is no ranking among the suits but any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category. To figure out your best poker hand in Texas Hold’em poker, you have to remember a few things. Both when determining your final poker hand and the poker hand that wins the pot.

Here’s a quick guide with a list of poker hands and what they mean:

High Card

This is the lowest possible poker hand in Texas Hold’em, made of any 5 cards. If your poker hand doesn’t match any of the other categories, then your highest card is taken into consideration. If your highest card is better than the opponent’s highest card, then you win. If your highest cards are similar, your second highest cards are compared, and so on. The chances of getting this hand is 1 in 0.9, with 1,301,540 combinations. For example, A♦, Q♥, 9♥, 5♣, 3♦

One Pair 

When your hand consists of two cards with the same value and three other cards then you have a pair. You can get this hand 1 out of 1.37 times, which means you can easily get this hand with 1,098,240 combinations. For example, Q♦, Q♥, K♥, 10♣, 2♦

Two pairs

This is one of the most frequent winning hands in poker. It is when two cards are of the same rank and another two are another rank. You can get this card one out of 20 times with over 123,000 combinations. For example, J♣, J♥, 8♠, 8♦, A♣

Three of a Kind

In this hand of five cards, three cards that have the same rank and an extra two cards that don’t form a pair. The denomination of the cards also determines the rank of the combination. It is also called trips. The chances of getting this hand is 1 in 46 with over 54,000 combinations. For example, 9♣, 9♠, 9♥, K♥, 7♣

Straight

A Straight can be found in the middle of the poker hand rankings. It is when five cards are of sequential ranking. The suits of the cards are not important when making a standard Straight. Chances of getting this poker hand is 1 out of 254 times with over 10,000 combinations. For example, 7♥, 6♣, 5♥, 4♦, 3♣

Flush

Your poker hand is called a flush when any five hands are of the same suit, even though the cards are not in any sequence. Out of the 5,802 combinations, the probability that could land this hand is one is 508 chances. For example, 8♣, 7♣, 5♣, 4♣, 3♣

Full House 

This is one of the best possible poker hands you could get. It comprises of trips and a pair in a single hand. Basically three cards of a kind and a pair of another. Chances of you sealing a victory is one in 693 chances with 3,774 combinations. For example, 10♣, 10♠, 10♥, A♦, A♠.

Four of a Kind

Well, the name says it all, it is similar to three of a kind but with four out of five cards of the same rank. The possibility of attaining this hand is one in 4,165 times with 624 combinations. For example, J♣, J♠, J♦, J♥, 9♥

Straight Flush 

Much like Straight, this poker hand is five cards that are of sequential ranking and belong to the same suit. With just 36 combinations, the chances of getting this hand is one in 72,193. For example, 9♥, 8♥, 7♥, 6♥, 5♥. 

Royal Flush

The rarest hand in poker because it tops every other hand at the felts. This royal hand consists of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit. With only 4 combinations, the possibility of gaining this hand is a massive one in 649,737. For example, A♥, K♥, Q♥, J♥, 10♥

Poker is a game that requires skill, math, probability, analysis, strategy, and of course, the different hand rankings. If you want to know how to play poker, you’re at the right place. There are different poker variations such as Omaha poker, Pineapple poker, razz poker, etc.

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Gutshot is here to boost your knowledge and help you go home big! Carefully study the game and kick start your career as there are several Indian online poker sites available at your fingertip. Keep reading GutshotMagazine.com for more such lessons.

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