Poker is a very popular game of skill, luck, and psychology. You can play poker in many styles, from standard draw poker variations that almost everyone is familiar with, to popular casino variations, to the many non-standard variations. Enthusiast played it at home. One of the most important things in the game is poker combination.
Poker cards values
On this page we’ll refer to the cards by the following symbols: Ace (A), King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J). We will indicate the other cards in their numerical value (7), (4), (2), etc.
Poker combination
The values of the individual cards are almost irrelevant in determining the winner. Unless all players have completely different cards in their hands. So, in most cases, winning is determined by the combinations of cards held by the players. They consist of 5 cards.
Poker hand rankings – from highest to lowest
1. Royal Flush
A suited hand with A K Q J 10 is called a Royal Flush. The Royal Flush is the most powerful poker combination, and one that a player may never see in a lifetime of play.
2. Straight Flush
This is the second strongest poker combination. Five cards of the same suite in numerical sequence is known as a Straight Flush. The relative value of Straight Flushes is indicated by naming the high card. The example above is called a “Ten High Straight Flush”.
When two Straight Flushes are in competition for the pot, the Straight Flush with the highest ranking card wins out. The example above, a Ten High Straight Flush, will beat a Nine High Straight Flush.
The ace value in poker must be used as either the highest card in the Straight Flush (in which case it would be a Royal Flush) or the lowest. For example, 5, 4, 3, 2, A is a valid Straight Flush, but J, Q, K, A, 2 isn’t a Straight Flush, just a regular Flush only.
3. Four of a Kind
Four cards of identical value, such as the example above (A A A A 2) is called a Four of a Kind. The extra card not comprising the four identical value cards, such as the 2 above, has no bearing on the rank of the hand.
4. Full House
A Full House consists of three cards of identical rank along with two cards of an identical but different rank.
When two players hold Full Houses, the player holding the higher ranking three of a kind wins the pot.
5. Flush
Any five cards of the same suite is called a Flush. A Flush is named with its high card. The example above is called a Ace High Flush.
When two or more players hold Flushes, the Flush with the highest ranking card winds the pot. If the highest ranking cards in competing Flushes hold the same value, then the next highest cards decide the winner and so on down until the last card.
6. Straight
Five non-suited cards in sequential order comprise a Straight. Like the Straight Flush, when a Straight contains an ace, it must serve as either the highest or lowest card in the sequence. The hand K A 2 3 4 is merely an ace high, and would be beaten by a simple Pair.
7. Three of a Kind
Three cards of identical value in a hand with two additional unmatched cards is called a Three of a Kind. Three of a Kind hands are often referred to using ‘trip’. The example above would be called “Trip Nines”, while a 4 4 4 9 J hand would be called “Trip Fours”.
8. Two Pair
Two sets of equal value cards along with an unmatched card is comprise a Two Pair hand. The example above would be referred to as “Nines over Fives”, while a hand A A 7 7 2 would be called “Aces over Sevens”.
9. One Pair
One set of equal value cards along with three additional unmatched cards is called a Pair. Pairs are ranked aces to deuces, highest to lowest. When two players hold equally matched pairs, the highest unmatched card decides the winner. If the highest unmatched cards are of equal value, then the next highest cards are compared – and on down until the last unmatched cards if required.
10. High Card
A hand containing five unmatched cards, lacking any of the above poker card combinations, is determined by its highest ranking card. The hand above is considered a Ace High hand, and would beat out a lesser Ten High hand like 10 7 4 3 2.
When two players have identical high cards, the hand with the next highest card wins, and if they too are equal, the next two highest cards are compared, and so on until the last card if necessary.
Here you can buy the poker cards deck.
Frequently asked questions about poker combinations
❓ Does a straight flush beat 4 of a kind?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does four of a kind beat a straight flush?
No. It beats only: Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does four of a kind beat a full house?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does four of a kind beat a flush?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Full House, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does 4 of a kind beat a straight?Does a full house beat a flush?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does full house beat a straight?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Flush, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does a flush beat a full house?
No. It beats only: Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does a flush beat 3 of a kind?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Straight, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does a straight beat a full house?
No. It beats only: Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does a straight beat a flush?
No. It beats only: Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does a straight beat 3 of a kind?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does a straight beat 2 pair?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: Three of a Kind, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does 3 of a kind beat a straight?
No. It beats only: Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does 3 of a kind beat 2 pair?
Yes. It also beats these combinations: One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does two pair beat a straight?
No. It beats only: One Pair and High Card.
❓ Does 2 pair beat 3 of a kind?
No. It beats only: One Pair and High Card.