Friday, April 1, 2011

Not Knowing The Holdem Ranking Of Hands Is A Sign You Are A Dumbass Poker Player

By Alex Bannon


A Holdem player is only as good as the strategy he uses at play. This strategy includes a thorough knowledge of the Holdem rankings - what each is made up of as well as what beats what at showdown. Below are the hand variations in order from strongest to weakest.

Holdem Rankings: From Start To Finish

Royal Flush
A Royal flush is technically a form of straight flush. It contains an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit. This is also called the unbeatable hand.

Your real likelihood of getting a Royal Flush is so low you will in fact be lucky if you ever get one - and even luckier if you manage ta make any real money from it.

Straight Flush
A Straight flush has five cards in a series with the same suit.
Example: 4,5,6,7,8 of spades

You might land a few of these if you play for long enough, but I doubt you will rake in what James Bond did when he hit one.

Four of a Kind
A Four of a Kind contains four cards the same rank with one side card.
Example: J,J,J,7

This is probably the easiest of the big hands to play. You simply play pocket pairs and let the board do the rest.

Full House
A Full House consists of three cards of the equal rank, plus two cards of another rank. This is also called sometimes called a 'boat' or a full boat.
Example: Q,Q,Q,6,6

This is a great hand you will actually come across.

Flush
These are five cards of the same suit.
Example: 3,5, 7 J, K of diamonds

Flushes are that common the likelihood is that someone else will have one too.

Straight
These are five cards in order, regardless of suit
Example: 3d, 4c, 5s, 6d, 7h

Straights are OK but not really all they are cracked up to be.

Three of a Kind
These are five cards containing 3 cards of equal same rank plus two side cards or kickers.
Example: 7, 7, 7, K

These are always lurking around the table so don't be surprised when someone turns one over.

Two Pair
These are cards which contain two pairs of equal rank plus one side card.
Example: 7, 7, 9, 9, J

This is the most common winning hand in Holdem.

One Pair:
These are cards with one pair of equal rank plus three kickers.
Example: 8,8,6,9,T

These are a dime a dozen. They barely even rank as a hand to me.

High Card:
This is the final kind of poker hand that does not fall into any of the aforementioned categories.
Example: 7, 6, 4, 3, 2

I'm not even going to validate a high card as a real hand.

Ties are not uncommon in Poker. In the event where two players hold the same hand, the Holdem ranking may be used to break the tie. Sometimes, even kickers or side cards may be used in the same way. Kickers and side cards, although not mainly used, can make up the overall Holdem ranking of a hand.




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