One of the most played card games in the world, poker has been around for centuries. There are many poker variations, but the basic premise is always the same: players bet on who has the best poker hands.
In this article, we will discuss the top 10 poker hands and some things that are usually done should you face not being dealt with with good poker hands.
The Ten Poker Hands from highest to lowest
The following is a list of the best poker hands in order from best to worst:
Royal Flush
A royal flush, also known as an ace-high straight flush, is made up of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten cards that all belong to the same suit. This combination is the best and highest hand in poker, and the odds of acquiring one are scarce.
Straight Flush
A straight flush is a five-card straight of the same suit. For example, if you have the cards King-Queen-Jack-Ten-Nine all of the clubs, that is a straight flush. Straight flushes are the second-best hand in poker and are also quite rare.
Four of a Kind
Four of a kind, also known as quads, is a hand containing all four cards of one rank. For example, if you have four Aces, that is four of a kind. Quads are the third-best hand in poker.
Full House
A hand containing three cards of one rank and two cards of another is known as a full house. For example, if you have the Ace of Hearts, Ace of Spades, King of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and King of Clubs, that is a full house. Full houses are the fourth-best hand in poker and are relatively common.
Flush
A flush is a hand that comprises five cards from the same suit. For example, if you have the Ace of Hearts, Ten of Hearts, Nine of Hearts, Five of Hearts, and Three of Hearts, that is a flush. Flushes are the fifth-best hand in poker, and they are pretty common.
Straight
A straight is a hand made up of five cards in consecutive succession. For example, if you have the Ace of Hearts, Two of Spades, Three of Diamonds, Four of Clubs, and Five of Hearts, that is straight. Straights are the sixth-best hand in poker, and they are relatively common.
Three of a Kind
Three-of-a-kind, also known as triples or trips, is a hand with three cards of one rank and two other unrelated cards. For example, if you have the Ace of Hearts, Ace of Spades, Ace of Diamonds, King of Hearts, and Queen of Clubs, that is three of a kind. Trips are the seventh-best hand in poker, and they are quite common.
Two Pair
Two pair is a hand that contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one other card. For example, if you have the Ace of Hearts, Ace of Spades, King of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and Nine of Clubs, that is a two-pair. Two pairs are the eighth-best hand in poker, which is quite common.
One Pair
One pair is a hand that contains two cards of one rank and three other cards. For example, if you have the Ace of Hearts, Ace of Spades, Queen of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, and Ten of Clubs, that is one pair. One pair is the ninth-best hand in poker, which is quite common.
High Card
A high card is a hand with no pairs, straights, or flushes. For example, if you have the Four of Hearts, Three of Spades, Six of Diamonds, Nine of Clubs, and a King of Hearts, your King of Hearts is the high card. High cards are the tenth-best hand, meaning they are the worst possible hand in poker and are very common.
What to Do with “Not-So-Good” Poker Hands
Now that you know the best poker hands, what do you do if you don’t get one of them? Here are three options you can choose depending on your situation:
Fold
This move is the most common play, meaning you give up your hand and stop playing for that round. This move is the best play if you have a bad hand or are up against good players and don’t want to risk losing your chips.
Call
This move is the second most common play, which means you match the player’s bet in front of you and continue playing for that round. This move is a good play if you have a good hand or think you can bluff your way to a win.
Raise
Raising is the least common play. When a player chooses to raise, you increase the player’s bet in front of you and continue playing for that round. This move is good if you have a great hand or want to bluff your way to a win. Bluffing is when you make a bet or raise even though you don’t have a good hand in the hopes that your opponents will fold and you will win the pot.
Conclusion
Those are the best poker hands, and what to do if you don’t get one of them? Remember, folding is usually the best play, but sometimes calling or raising can be the right move. It all depends on the situation and your confidence in your abilities to read the other players. Poker is a game of wit and skill, so practicing and training your mind to make the best decisions in any situation is a must. Start training today when you sign up at GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room!
