Winning Poker Hands

The Winning Hand: The Low down

We've all seen it in the movies – the tension around the poker table as the winning hand is revealed, before being trumped by an usurper with an even better hand! But as increasing numbers of us log on to an online casino attempting to recapture that excitement it is important to know which hand will earn those readies. Here, in descending order of strength of hand, is the low down on what to look out for in the most exciting game on the planet. Royal Flush A straight run from a ten to an ace with every single card coming from the same suit. The suits are ranked equally in poker, so in the (extremely unlikely) event of two players having a Royal Flush each the usual resolution is to either split the money or split the deck for a high card. Straight Flush Any run of five cards in order of the same suit. The highest ranking cards in the run wins the hand (e.g. five-nine will beat four-eight).

Four of a Kind
Any four cards of the same rank (four sixes). If two players have the same ranking cards the fifth card will be the decider (again the highest will win).

Full House
If a player has three cards of one rank and two cards from another. "Kings full of Queens" would be three Kings and two Queens, and would beat "Queens full of Kings", so the three ranking cards are paramount.

Flush
A flush is any five cards from the same suit and does not have to be consecutive.

Straight
Almost the opposite to the flush, a straight can contain any five cards from across the suits but must run in consecutive order.

Three of a Kind
Any three cards of the same rank, such as three sixes.

Two Pair
Any two sets of pairs. This is not to be confused with Four of a Kind (above) which has four cards that are the same, but instead is different sets of pairs. To elucidate, Two Pair would be two fives and two Jacks.

One Pair
Does what it says on the tin - any two cards of the same rank.

High Card
Should all players be unlucky enough not to have any of the winning hands above, the winner is decided from having the highest card available.

So there you have it. Of course, while this is a definitive round up of the winning hands that are available in poker, it is important to check with the casino gaming site with which you are registered upon the different rules for each game. Some sites, for example, do not let a high card win the round. Either way, whichever hand you are dealt, you will now be well equipped to face the dealer without fear.