WHAT BEATS WHAT IN POKER: MEMORIZE THE HAND RANKINGS TO WIN

While playing Poker it is mandatory, that a player should be well conversant with the rankings of the probable hands. Otherwise he cannot prove himself competent enough to play and to win the game of Poker. And if the player remains ignorant about 'what beats what in Poker', it might prove to be his biggest blunder as a Poker player. So, it really makes sense that a player must learn by heart the rankings of poker hands before he proceeds to play.

Here are the 10 basic hands of Poker duly placed in order from top to bottom. The best-ranked poker hand remains at the top, and obviously the most awful hand stays at the bottom. It will help you to memorize the hand rankings and as well as to win.


Royal Flush: The Royal Flush well can be accepted as the most outstanding hand in poker. It includes Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 and that too of the same suit. It beats all.

Straight Flush: The poker hand that confirms any five sequenced cards and that too belonging to the same suit. For example: 3c-4c-5c-6c-7c *Beats all except the Royal.

Four of a Kind: The Poker hand that confirms four cards of the identical value, and each from every suit along with a kicker. A kicker can further be treated as an unpaired card that usually helps out to settle on the winner if both players hold the same pair. Example: Four K with an ace as a kicker. *Beats all, except Royal Flush/ Straight Flush.

Full House: The Poker hand that confirms three cards of the same rank and two other cards forming a pair. Example: 10d-10h-10s+8s-8c. *Beats Flush and all other lower ranked poker hands.

Flush: The Poker hand that confirms five non-consecutive cards of the similar suit. Example: Qh-10h-2h-5h-7h. * Beats straight and other lower ranked poker hands.

Straight: The Poker hand consists of 5 cards confirming a sequence and that too of a different suit. 8s-9c-10d-Jh-Qs. *Beats Three of a kind and other lower ranked hands.

Three of a Kind: The Poker hand that confirms three cards of the same rank, and two non-paired card as a kicker (also see Four of a kind). Example: 8h-8d-8s+Qh-Kd (kickers). *Beats either Two Pair or One Pair.

Two Pair: The Poker hand that confirms two different sets of pair of the same value along with a kicker. Example: Qd-Qh-Js -Jc +Kd (kicker). *Beats One Pair.

One Pair: The Poker hand confirming two cards of the same rank. Example: 10c-10s.

High Card: If not any of these previous hands exists, usually the player confirming the highest card wins.