Most people go into a friendly poker game knowing the basics about the order of importance of the cards and what hands win in general terms, like pairs, four of a kind, straights and flushes. If there is something of value in the pot or you want to play competitively, it’s important to know what kind of poker you are playing and the kind of nuanced system the ranking actually consists of (ibc bet action is over here). For standard poker (as oppsed to for example, Texas Hold ‘Em), the card and hand ranking is uniform and fairly basic but essential to doing well and even winning. Below we cover the basic card and hand rankings of poker.

A. Card Ranking

The ranking of the individual cards is the generally known order. From low to high, the ranking goes from 2 to Ace. The suits are all of equal value for purposes of ranking a hand. But in some games, in some situations and sometimes even in a weekly game with friends, suit can determine seating or betting order, just not determine wins, losses or the value of a hand in standard poker. A hand of five is dealt to each player in whatever order they or the hosting organization (business, host, regular members, etc) have agreed to prior to the match.

B. Hand Rankings

Hand rankings are determined by the number or face value of the card and the suit. There are many combinations among the 52 cards and the groupings of the five dealt to each hand. If none of the enumerated or desired combinations exist in a hand, it is called “No Pair” or “High Card” and really has no value unless everyone has rankless hands. In such a situation, the hand with the highest value high card wins. If two people have the same high card, then between the two, the second highest card will determine the victor. Here are some of the rankings, from lowest (or second lowest to the No Pair hand) to highest.

1. A Pair

This means there is one pair of two cards with the name number or rank and three cards that are all different from them and one another. If this is the highest rank in a game, the higher number or rank of the cards in a pair will win. If two players have equal plans, the highest card of the other three will win.

2. Two Pairs

A hand with two pairs has just that. Two sets of cards of equal rank from different suits and one spare to round out the hand. If two players have two pairs, the higher of the high pairs wins and if they are the same, the second pair will be assessed similarly.

3. Three of a Kind

This type of hand has three cards of equal rank from different suits and two distinct other cards. When two hands have three of a kind, the higher valued triplet will prevail.

4. Straight

A straight is a hand with five cards in sequence from different suits. An example would be the 9 of Hearts, 10 of Clubs, J of Hearts, Queen of Spades and King of Clubs. When a game has two players with straights, the straight with the highest high card will win. One exception: the high or end card cannot be a 2 (ex. Jack-Queen-King-Ace-2 is not valid). That is called “turning the corner” and it is never valid in Standard Poker. The Ace is the highest and lowest card and cannot be in the middle of a sequence.

5. Flush

A flush occurs when a player has five cards from the same suit. They do not have to be sequential. The hand with the highest high card will win in case of a tie. If the high cards are the same, the second highest cards are compared and so on.

6. Full House

A full house consists of a pair and three of a kind. Three cards are the same rank from different suits and two are separately the same rank from different suits. In the event of a draw, the three of a kind are compared first, then the pair.

7. Four of a Kind

Just like it sounds, this high ranking hand has four cards of the same value, middle of a sequence. They are compared if two hands are tied, and then if still the same, the winner is the player with the higher spare (fifth) card.

8. Straight Flush

The straight beats everything else. It is 5 cards in sequential order from the same suit. In the event of a tie, the hand with the higher highest value will win the pot. The best of all straight flushes is the Royal Flush which means the 5 cards are 10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace, which always wins. Just like a regular straight, the straight flush can never turn the corner, so the Ace is the highest of lowest card, never within the sequence.

These are all of the standard poker rankings. They are across the board the practice around the world. The only variation will be if there is a wild card and then turning the corner does not necessarily play such an important role and the wild card designated can go anywhere in a sequence, even before or after an Ace. Before you head out and use these rankings to hit the tables or join a game, be sure to look at some examples and be able to recognize one in any format in your hand before you start trying your luck with something at stake.