Hand Rank in Poker

A poker hand is what the poker game is all about, a combination of five cards a player holds in his hand at the end of a poker game round which is also called a hand (though in community card poker games such as Texas holdem poker some of the hand cards will be physically on the table). The player holding the best, highest ranking poker hand is the big winner.

Hands Categories

High Card
5 cards poker hand that fit to none of the categories and judged by her highest card. If there's a tie, second highest card is compared.

A pair
Two out of the five cards are from same rank ant the others are unrelated and use as kickers in case of a tie. First the highest kicker is compared, than the second high and than third.

For example: 4♥ 4♠ K♠ 10♦ 5♠.

Two Pair
Two pairs of cards, each from the same rand but not all four are from the same rank. The fifth card is a kicker. If two or more players have the same top ranking pairs, than the bottom pair breaks the tie, if they are the same too than the kicker is being used.

For example: J♥ J♣ 4♣ 4♠ 9♠.

3 of a kind
3 out of the 5 cards are from the same suit, and the two other cards are not related. Those two cards are used as kicker to choose the winner between two 3 of a kind poker hands from the same rank.

For example: 2♦ 2♠ 2♥ K♠ 6♠.

Straight
All five cards are in numerical sequence. Between two straights the higher ranked one wins.

For example: Q♣ J♠ 10♠ 9♥ 8♥.

Flush
All five cards are suited (from the same suit). To determine between two flushes the highest card of each flush is compared, if they are even then the second highest etc.

For example: Q♣ 10♣ 7♣ 6♣ 4♣.

Full House
A poker hand made out of 3 of a kind (3 cards from the same rank) plus a pair (two cards from the same rank). To determine a winner between two players with full houses, first the 3 of a kind rank is compared, if it is from the same rank than the pair will determine the winner.

For example: 3♣ 3♠ 3♦ 6♣ 6♥.

4 of a kind
4 out of the 5 poker hand cards are from the same rank. The higher this rank is, the higher the poker hand rank is; four 8's will win four 6's. The fifth card is called a breaker and is used to determine a winning poker hand is two or more players have for of a kind with the same rank (this is possible when playing with more than one deck).

For example: 9♣ 9♠ 9♦ 9♥ J♥.

Straight Flush - the highest category
All five poker hand cards are in numerical sequence and from the same suit (suited).
The highest flush is the "Royal Flush", AKQJT. The lowest flush is 5432A.

For example:Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠.

The winning poker hand in a poker game is the one belonging to the highest category. If two or more poker hands are under the same highest category, than inside-category considerations are used as described above.

For example: K♥ J♣ 8♣ 7♦ 3♠.