Poker Rules: What Beats What?

Poker is one of the most popular casino card games to date, so much so in fact, there are international tournaments set up in favour of one of the more favoured variants, Texas Hold’em. Winners walk away with millions in cash prizes while other material prizes are amongst some of the most coveted in the poker industry. The game is elite, exclusive and can be played professionally as well as for recreational purposes.

Here we take a look at what the rules are and what beats what hand. It’s simple, it’s easy and most importantly if you have this knowledge you will be able to bluff your way through hands, beat opponents and walk away with the pot. Check out this online poker guide to determine whether or not your hand is worth playing, if you should fold or when you should for sure raise!

Texas Hold’em Hands

In the below explanation, we list the highest ranking hands in sequence from the best hand to the lowest paying hand.

Royal Flush

A royal flush is 5 cards, all of the same suit, ranging in sequence. This would be 10, J, Q, K and A of one suit, so either all of hearts, clubs, diamonds or spades. This is the best hand in Texas Hold’em and should always be played. It is also one of the most exquisite hands, rarely even seen in professional poker rooms.

Straight Flush

The second best hand in this poker variant is a Straight Flush. A Royal Flush beats this hand of matched suits but it remains almost as strong as a Royal Flush. A straight flush consists of 5 cards, all of which run in sequence from the beginning to the last one and they are all of the same suit. For example, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of hearts would be a hand consisting of a straight flush which beats the below hand.

Four of a Kind

This is where hands become easier to grasp as they are really just duplicates. Four of a Kind, is exactly as the name suggests, four cards of the same rank but of different suits. So for example, 4 Kings of different suits which could be hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs. This hand should not be called in.

Full House

This hand is beaten by Four of a Kind but it trumps a Flush. A Full House is compiled of Three of a Kind ad a Pair. So for example, three 5’s and two 7’s, regardless of the suit, is a Full House.

Flush

This is a common hand in Texas Hold’em and beats a Straight or Three of a Kind, all of which are mentioned below. A Flush is a hand which consists of five cards of the same suit but they do not run in sequence.

Straight

A straight is one of the more commonly heard of hands as this shuffle is more often seen due to the chances of a deck of cards in favour of lower winning hands. However, the more players to sit at a table, the more elusive these hands become.

A Straight is a hand of five cards running in sequence but of different suits.

Three of a Kind

This is three cards of the same rank. So either 3 Kings or 3 fives and so forth.

Two Pair

Here you have two pairs of different ranks. So two Queens and two 5’s in one hand is a Two Pair Hand.

Pair

This is the second least valuable hand as it consists of only two cards of the same rank.

High Card

The lowest winning hand, the hand to bluff and fool them all, is a high card. This is the highest card in a hand to trump any other high cards in opponent’s hands.