Poker is one of the most popular casino games that are played. It is enjoyed at online casinos, land-based casinos and in private games.
One of the most important things to learn when you learn to play the game of poker is what makes up the hand rankings in the game. Knowing the good poker hands will help you to achieve a strategy and game play that will only add to your success.
Good Poker Hands
Any poker hands are good poker hands, but there are specific hand rankings in the game of poker. Of course, the best poker hands are the ones that rank highest. Here we will look at poker rankings so you can understand what makes up good poker hands.
Good Poker Hands Ranked
Here are nine good poker hands that are ranked from highest to lowest:
• Royal Flush – 10, J, Q, K, A all in the same suit
• Straight Flush – five consecutive cards all in the same suit e.g. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 of Diamonds
• Four of a Kind – four cards of the same numerical value with any fifth card e.g. 6, 6, 6, 6, X
• Full House – three cards of one numerical value and two cards of another numerical value e.g. 8, 8, 8, J, J
• Flush – five cards of any numerical value, but all in the same suit e.g. 2, 7, 10, J, A of Diamonds
• Straight – five consecutive cards in any different suits
• Three of a Kind – three cards of one numerical value, with any two other cards e.g. 9, 9, 9, X, Y
• Two Pair – two pairs of cards, that is two cards of one numerical value and two other cards of another numerical value e.g. 5, 5, 9, 9, X
• Pair – two cards with the same numerical value e.g. 5, 5, X, Y, Z
Making Good Poker Hands
To make good poker hands, players must combine five cards in the highest ranking possibility that they can. These good poker hands may be made up of their own individual cards, plus community cards. At the end of the game, the players remaining in the game (the ones that have not folded) will compare their hands.
Good poker hands are compared according to their rank. If no players hold good poker hands, then the highest ranking cards are compared until a winner is determined.
No Good Poker Hands
Some players do well at poker even when they do not hold a good poker hand. This can be achieved through bluffing and through being able to recognize when your opponents are bluffing. If all of your opponents fold before the last round of the game, you will win, regardless of the cards that you hold in your hand.
However, this can be a dangerous tactic unless you are highly skilled. Learn the rules of the game for the variation you are playing to understand the best strategy and game play for you to use.
