Poker
Poker is a game that relies on skill, strategy and lots of anticipation.
A common saying about poker is that you play the people and not the cards.
That is why it is hugely important to know all the different poker hands through and through.
This will help you gauge how good your cards are, and hopefully, make well-informed decisions.
However, it is better to fully master these before jumping into any game.
Learning through trial and error can be frustrating, and costly, and it is not even necessary.
The cards are ranked from 2 to Ace, with Ace being the highest.
For example, if you have a King and your opponent has a Jack, you win.
If your opponent also has a King, then the winner will be determined by the next highest card.
Should your second card be a 7 and your opponent has a 6, you win.
In the event that you both have 7s, then the round is tied and you split the pot.
Two Pair
Two pairs beat one pair.
This can be three 7s or three Ks.
The best Three of a Kind is when you hold two of the cards in your hole cards.
Straight
A straight is a group of 5 sequential cards.
The cards do not have to be of the same suit.
For example, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 make a straight.
These can be high ranking cards or low, it does not matter.
Full House
A full house is one pair and one three of a kind.
For example, it could be a pair of 5s and three 7s.
Straight Flush
This is a combination of a straight and a flush.
Basically, it requires 5 sequential cards of the same suit.
Royal Flush
The rarest, and strongest, hand of them all is the Royal Flush.
After the flop, turn and river, the dynamic of the game can change drastically.
Here are some scenarios to help you learn the poker hands with.
Game 1
You both have one pair.
Yours is a pair of 8s and your opponent has a pair of 5s.
Your opponent is leading with the 10 high card.
After the turn, your opponent has three of a kind with the 5s.
You win the round as flush is stronger than three of a kind.
Game 2
You take the lead with two pairs.
Your opponent does not have any matching cards.
As a full house beats a flush, you win the round.
Here are examples where you have to play against 3 other players.
Player A has a pair of 5s, B and C do not even have a pair.
You are winning with the pair and then 10 high card.
Player A has three of a kind after the turn is dealt.
You still only have a pair, whilst B and C still do not have anything.
Once the 9 of spades is dealt, player C has a flush.
The round ends and Player C wins with the flush.
You do not even have a pair.
You win as a flush beats a straight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can form a 6 card straight?
It is possible to form a 6-hand straight between the 5 communal cards and your 2 hole cards.
However, this will not count as a larger straight or better than another straight.
you’re free to only form 5-card hands in standard games of poker.
What happens to the probability if there is more than one deck?
Generally, poker is a one-deck game.
Unless stated, the game will be played with one deck and therefore all the probabilities are the same.
There may be games in which two decks are used, but then the probabilities will be completely different.
Are the hands (and ranking) the same across all poker variants?
Yes, unless it is a special variant with different rules.
You may find games in which certain cards are not included or there are special rules about specific hands.
This will change the probabilities of each hand, so you should change your strategy accordingly.
However, for the most part, the hands and their rankings are the same in standard poker games.
Does Omaha Poker also have 5-card hands?
In Omaha poker, you are dealt 4 hole cards instead of 2.
You do not need to form 6 or 7-card hands.
Can I learn poker hands by playing video poker?
You may, but it is not recommended.
Most video poker games incorporate poker hands.
For example, there may be games which have large payouts for drawing a full house or royal flush.
However, it is usually better to separate video poker from classic poker.
They are not that difficult to pick up, and before long you should be able to recognise them.
The hard part is factoring the different hands and probabilities into your game.
