Take a moment to commit these to memory then take your new found understanding to the tables and there you'll begin to appreciate why Poker is the worlds' most popular card game.
Below, the hand rankings are displayed in an order of highest ranking hand (1. Royal Flush) to the lowest ranking hand (10. High Card). Five of a kind has been numbered 0 because it is only possible when wild cards are being used. If wild cards are being used, five of a kind is often considered the highest hand.
0. Five of a Kind
Five cards of the same rank. This hand can only occur if wild cards are used. (Ex. Q, Q, Q, Q, WC)
1. Royal Flush
1 Chance in 649,739 Hand Dealt
A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit. The Big Kahuna. The hand everyone strives for and the reason we play this game.
2. Straight Flush
1 Chance in 72,192 Hand Dealt
Any five card sequence in the same suit. (Ex: 8, 9, 10, J, Q and A, 2, 3, 4, 5 of same suit). You can take this hand straight to the bank.
3. Four of a Kind
1 Chance in 4,164 Hand Dealt
All four cards of the same index (Ex: Q, Q, Q, Q). A great hand when you can get it.
4. Full House
1 Chance in 693 Hand Dealt
Three of a kind combined with a pair (Ex: A, A, A, 5, 5). Many a round has been won and lost on this hand. Mostly won.
5. Flush
1 Chance in 508 Hand Dealt
Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. No need to turn red with embarrassment with this hand.
6. Straight
1 Chance in 254 Hand Dealt
Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit. After all, you wouldn't want to clash.
7. Three of a Kind
1 Chance in 46 Hand Dealt
Three cards of the same rank.
8. Two pair
1 Chance in 20 Hand Dealt
Two separate pairs (Ex: J, J, 9, 9).
9. Pair
1 Chance in 4 Hand Dealt
Two cards of the same rank. (Q, Q) Sometimes called a San Francisco Pair.
10. Highest Card
1 Chance in 2 Hand Dealt
Highest card in your hand. Well at least you tried.
"The odds of getting a royal fizzbin are astronomical. Spock, what are the odds of getting a royal fizzbin?" Captain James T Kirk Odds are a fairly serious business. We don't want to lose our sense of humor but we also don't want to lose our shirt. It's a good idea to go into every battle... More
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In early position you have to play fairly tightly, even in loose games, since you don't know how many raises there will be, and you will be out of position for the whole hand.
