Here is an article we have put together here at yourpaypalpoker.com covering the complete poker basics, below we are going to give you all of the current hand rankings in Texas Holdem poker and show you the cards that you require in order to make up these hands. Hopefully this article will come in useful for the complete novice or somebody just looking to quickly re jog their memory.

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The best possible poker hand is the straight flush; the straight flush consists of 5 cards of the same suit, in a running order. For example 7, 8, 9, 10, J of spades would make up a straight flush obviously the higher the straight flush the better. If you compile a straight flush of 10, J, Q, K, A. you have then got a Royal flush and this is the best straight flush so there for is the best possible poker can.

Four of a kind – this is the second highest possible hand in poker, 4 of a kind is pretty self explanatory if your hand consist of 4 cards of the same value, for example four 5s then you have got a four of a kind. If two people gain 4 of a kind from a hand the highest value 4 of a kind will take the pot. For example if one player had four 10s and the other had 4 Aces, it would be the player with the aces who take down the pot.

Full House – after a 4 of a kind follows the full house. A full house consists of 3 cards of one value and then 2 cards of another value, for example you could have a full house that consists of 3 jacks and 2 4s (JJJ44) if two people have a full house it is the value of the first 3 cards that determine the strength of the full house, (AAA1010) would beat (KKK1010).

Flush – a flush is next in the rankings; a flush consists of any five cards of the same suit, in this instance our flush is made up of 4, 6, 9, 10, J of hearts. If two people manage to hit a flush in the same hand the winner is determined by the strength of the highest card for example if one player had 3,4,6,8,K of hearts and the other player had the exact same hand apart from the A, 3,4,6,8,A then the player with the Ace would take down the pot as it is the highest value flush.

Straight – following a flush is a straight; a straight is 5 cards of any suit running in consecutive numbers for example Ace of hearts, King of spades, Queen of diamonds, jack of hearts and 10 of spades. Just the same as a straight flush the highest card will determine the winner of the pot if two or more straights appear in one hand.

Three of a kind – a 3 of a kind consists of 3 cards of the same value, and two “Kicker” cards for example AAAK3. the kicker cards you have are the two highest value cards you have left out of the seven cards you have to make your five card hand. If two people have a 3 of a kind it is the highest value 3 cards that take down the pot, however if two players have the same  3 0f a kind for example AAAK3 vs. AAA109 the winner of the hand is then determined by the strength of the kicker cards each player is carrying. If both players have identical kicker cards then the pot is split evenly between them two players.

Two pair – if you have not made any of the hands above you will be looking to make a pair out of your poker hand. Two pair is made up of 2 sets of pairs. A pair is made up of two cards carrying the same value for example JJ998, if two player have made the same two pair you will then move down the player with the highest kicker to separate the winner, if both players are carrying the same kickers then the pot is split evenly between these players.

Pair – a pair consists of 2 cards of the same value and then the 3 highest cards out of the rest of the hand, if two players have the same pair of cards, it then moves down to the kicker cards in each hand, if these also match up the pot is split evenly between the two players.

High Card – a high card only comes into play when no player has made any of the hands above, a high card is the highest value card amongst your 7 cards, this is the final way to determine who wins a hand; you will have to go down all of the top 5 cards if necessary. For example AJ10975 will beat AJ10973

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