Want to Learn Poker? You Have to Know Poker Hands

If you want to learn poker and you're brand new to

the game, one of the first things you have to learn is

the different poker hands and how they are valued. If

you want to learn poker and you don't know if a full

house beats three of a kind, how are you going to play

poker, let alone win? So come on, let's learn poker!

1) The best possible hand you can get in texas holdem (probably

the world's most recognized, if not most popular, form of

poker today) is a royal flush. In all my poker playing and

watching, I don't think I've seen anyone ever get a royal

flush. Remember that while you learn poker. If you're

playing texas holdem don't chase a royal flush, you're most

likely throwing away chips!

So what's a Royal Flush? A royal flush is holding five cards

of the same suit, the 10 through ace.

2) The next highest hand in holdem is the straight flush. It's

the same as the royal flush but is not Ace high. That's the

only difference. A straight flush can be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of

the same suit, or it can be 7, 8, 9, 10, J of the same suit

or anything else that isn't ace high.

As you learn poker, you really need to make these hands second

nature. If you have to think about what hand beats what while

you're playing poker, it will take your concentration away from

the important stuff, like your poker strategy!

3) The third highest hand in texas holdem poker is four of a kind,

also known as quads, such as 7c-7d-7h-7s. If two people have

quads the higher cards win. Of course, this makes quad aces

the highest four of a kind you can get in poker.

4) The next highest hand in poker is the full house (full boat or boat).

In poker, this is simply three of a kind and two of a kind together.

For example you hold 7c-7h-7d and 5c-5s, aka sevens full of fives.

5) After the full house you have the flush. A flush is any five cards

of the same suit. When a flush meets a flush, the higher flus wins.

For example, 5c-8c-9c-Jc-Qc beats 3s-5s-8s-9s-Js because the first

flush is queen high while the second is only jack high and the queen

beats the jack.

6) A straight is the next highest hand in poker. A straight is simply

five cards in order, but not of the same suit, such as 5c-6c-7s-8h-9d.

An ace high straight is the most valuable straight.

7) Three of a kind (trips or a set) follows. This is simply three of

the same card number, such as 7c-7d-7h or Js-Jd-Jh.

8) In poker the next best hand is two pair, such as Jd-Jh and 5c-5h.

9) One pair is next. This is simply two of the same card number, such

as Kd-Kh.

10) Finally, as you learn poker, know that high card is the worst hand

you can have. This is nothing more than no hand at all. An example is

2c-5h-7h-10c-Jh. This hand is nothing more than jack high. The only

hand it can beat is another high card hand that has a lower top card

than the jack.

As you learn poker, it's important that you make these hands second

nature so you don't have to think about them as you play. Keep in

mind that most big poker pots are won by one pair, two pair or three

of a kind. You rarely see the top hands in poker, although they do

happen from time to time. The rankings in texas holdem poker are

no different than the rankings you have in your home poker game around

the kitchen table with beer and chips.

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