Winning poker hands are card combinations that rank the highest. However, since poker is a complex game with numerous variants, there’s no universal winning hand, nor does a high-ranking hand guarantee a win. The outcome depends on the specific variant’s rules and every player’s skill and strategy.
In this article, we’ll cover the winning poker hands in order, explaining each in detail and listing a few reputable online casinos where you can play both RNG and live poker. Finally, we’ll highlight some common poker mistakes to avoid and offer several valuable tips on assembling winning poker hands.
Poker Hand Ranking Explained
Poker hand ranking is the order of card combinations in poker from best (most likely to win) to worst (least likely to win). There are ten of these combinations, or winning poker hands, in Texas Hold’em and other common five-card poker variants.
These combinations are the winning poker hands, as each of them is, to a certain degree, likely to take the pot.
Without further ado, let’s review the winning poker hands ranked:
#1. Royal Flush
Royal flush is the strongest of the winning poker hands. However, according to the poker hand probability chart, it’s also the least likely hand to have.
This card combination consists of the highest five cards in the same suit. For example, 10, ace, jack, queen, and king of spades constitute a royal flush.
This poker hand can’t be beaten, but it can be tied by another royal flush.
#2. Straight Flush
A straight flush is similar to a royal flush, but the cards aren’t the highest-ranking in the deck. Instead, they’re any five cards of the same suit in consecutive order. For instance, the combination of a five, four, three, two, and an ace is a straight flush.
#3. Four-of-a-Kind
As the name suggests, a four-of-a-kind is a combination of five cards in which four are of the same rank, and the remaining one is of any rank. For example, four Aces and a king in any suit make up a four-of-a-kind.
#4. Full House
A full house consists of a three-of-a-kind and a pair, both of which we’ll explain later. It consists of three cards of one rank and a pair of cards of another. An example of a full house is a combination of three Kings and two Aces.
#5. Flush
A flush has one of the two qualities of a straight flush, hence one out of the two words in the name. It consists of five cards of the same suit in no particular order. For instance, three, four, eight, jack, and king of hearts make up a flush.
#6. Straight
A straight has another of the two qualities of a straight flush—it consists of five cards in consecutive order but in random suits. An example of a straight is a combination of an ace of clubs, two of hearts, three of spades, four of diamonds, and five of diamonds.
#7. Three-of-a-Kind
A three-of-a-kind, as the name suggests, is a combination of five cards, three of which are of the same rank. The remaining two cards are of another random rank. For example, three jacks, a four, and an ace constitute a three-of-a-kind.
#8. Two-Pair
A two-pair comprises two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one card of any random rank. An example of a two-pair involves two Aces, two fives, and a ten.
#9. Pair
A pair is a poker hand comprising two cards of the same rank and three random cards. For example, two Aces, a two, an eight, and a ten make up a pair. This and any other combination that includes two Aces are the best starting hands in poker.
#10. High Card
A high card is the highest one in your hand. When your combination of cards doesn’t meet the criteria for any of the previous nine hands, the highest card you have counts according to the card ranking.
Relativity of Winning Poker Hands Explained
The winning poker hands aren’t set in stone but rather depend on the game variant. Let’s see this in practice by comparing one of the most popular variants (Texas Hold’em) and standard poker (five-card draw).
- Private vs. community cards: Standard five-card draw poker features only private cards, while Texas Hold’em includes community cards as well.
- Complexity: Given the community cards, Texas Hold’em is a more complex variant than five-card draw poker, as it involves more planning ahead and strategic decision-making.
- Betting rounds: With fewer betting rounds, a five-card draw focuses on the ranking of the initial hand and the drawing stage. Texas Hold’em, meanwhile, has more betting rounds, allowing for more strategizing and leaving more space for creating a stronger hand than the starting one.
- Drawing stage: While Texas Hold’em generally requires more strategizing, a five-card draw has a drawing stage during which players can exchange their cards to improve their hands.
Where to Play Poker Online: 3 Best Sites
Knowing where to play poker online is as important as understanding the concept of winning poker hands. In this section, we’ll list a few of the best online poker sites.
#1. All British Casino
All British Casino offers several poker variants, both live and RNG. You can see them all by simply entering the word poker in the search bar on the home page. They’re developed by three top-tier software providers: Evolution Gaming, Microgaming, and Nyx.
The casino is operated by L&L Europe Limited, and it’s been online since 2013. It’s regulated by the two most reputable licensing bodies on the online casino market—the UK Gambling Commission (38758) for players residing in Great Britain and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA/B2C/211/2011) globally.
On top of that, the casino uses several privacy protection and security methods, such as firewalls, encryption, SSL certification, TLS protocols, and malware scanners.
#2. PlayOJO Casino
PlayOJO Casino features both video poker and live dealer poker by several renowned developers, including Playtech. You can see the entire list by typing poker in the search bar or visiting the poker section on the website.
This casino operates under Skill on Net Limited, a company registered in Malta. Like the previous entry on the list, it holds two licenses—one issued by the UKGC under number 39326 and the other by the MGA under number MGA/CRP/171/2009.
Moreover, PlayOJO Casino uses advanced encryption and authentication methods to protect players’ personal information.
#3. Luckster Casino
Luckster Casino has three live poker variants developed by Evolution Gaming, the best software provider for live casino games.
This casino is owned by Marketplay Limited, a company registered under the laws of Malta. The games on the website are operated by AG Communications Limited, regulated by the UK Gambling Commission under number 39483.
Additionally, Luckster Casino uses 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology to ensure secure transmission of customers’ data.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Determining Poker Hand Strength
- Not knowing your hand is a rookie poker mistake. Memorizing the hand ranking by heart is the first and most important rule of the game. Otherwise, you can unknowingly pass on good betting opportunities.
- Misreading your hand is another poker mistake beginners often make. That’s unsurprising since many poker hands resemble each other. One example includes a straight, flush, and straight flush. Telling them apart at a glance requires practice, which takes time.
- Overvaluing hands can lead to great losses, as poker newbies tend to overestimate card combinations that look good on the surface but hold little value. One example of such a combination includes an ace, king, 10, and 9.
- Playing too many hands happens when a player, usually new to poker, loses control of the game. Poker is a game of patience and strategy, which is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind as a beginner. You don’t have to (and you shouldn’t) play every hand—folding at the right time can be an excellent strategic move.
- Playing out of position is a tricky poker mistake that happens when a player focuses solely on the ranking of their hand. While knowing the strength of your card combination is crucial, other factors are important as well. One of them regards your position in the betting order. Namely, if you’re in a late position, you have the advantage of planning your move according to the actions of the players in an early position.
5 Advanced Tips & Strategies for Winning Poker Hands
- Play strategically. While it’s true that playing as many hands as you can is a good way to practice poker, when you play for real money, you need to strategize. The best way to do so is to play cautiously—choose your battles (bets) and take fewer risks.
- Fold if unsure. As a newbie, you may find the game too dynamic and difficult to keep up with. That’s understandable, and the best way to go until you get the ropes of poker is to take the safest option and fold if you’re unsure about the odds of your hand.
- Learn poker odds. Speaking of odds, looking into the numbers can be quite helpful when determining how risky a certain move can be. However, rather than memorizing them by heart, seek to understand the logic behind them.
- Consider the potential of your hand. The point of poker is to assemble the highest-ranking card combination over the course of the game. However, considering the potential of your starting hand can set the tone for the rest of the game and pay out in the long run.
- Learn to bluff and read bluff. Bluffing is essential in poker, which is something about it that’s most admired and hardest to master. Give yourself some time and start by learning the basics of poker body language. That way, you’ll be able to catch subtle changes in your opponents’ behavior and control yours.
Final Thoughts
The winning poker hands list is the ranking of the ten strongest card combinations in five-card poker variants. Memorizing it is crucial for avoiding common poker mistakes, such as misreading your hand. However, you need to consider other factors as well, such as its relativity, your position, and your opponent’s behavior.
Strategizing your bets, observing other players, and practicing self-awareness are the pillars of a successful poker game.
However, choosing the right venue is the unofficial first step, and it goes for any game. When scouting for online casinos, pay attention to their licensing and security information. Reading the fine print can save you many unpleasant surprises along the way.
Winning Poker Hands FAQ
#1. What are the odds of getting the best hand in poker?
The odds of getting the best hand in poker (royal flush) are 649,739:1. This card combination has the lowest probability out of the ten—0.000154%.
#2. What happens if players have the same hands in poker?
If two or more players have the same hands in poker, the result is a tie, and the pot is divided among them into equal parts.
#3. What is the worst hand in poker?
Depending on the context, the worst hand in poker can be the lowest-ranking card combination, which is a high card. It can also mean the worst starting hand in five-card poker, which is a two-seven offsuit hand.
#4. How many poker hands are there?
There are ten poker hands in total if you consider the ranking. In a particular game, however, the number of hands depends on the number of players.
#5. What beats what in poker?
Royal flush beats all the other card combinations in poker. Behind it, from the strongest to the weakest one, are straight flush, four-of-a-kind, full house, flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, two-pair, pair, and a high card.
#6. What hand in poker always wins?
The highest-ranking hand (royal flush) is the one that always wins in poker.
#7. What is statistically the best poker hand?
Statistically, the best poker hands are two-pair and pair, as they’re the most likely to take the pot.