Most people that go to play online poker understand basic winning hands but occasionally a total beginner will happen along. Most of the time, that person will be too embarrassed to admit that they don’t know the winning hands in poker so they play anyway and get slaughtered. Usually there is further embarrassment because they threw away three twos because they had a pair of face cards or some other such nonsense. This is a basic guide for the winning hands in poker as well as a brief explanation of what constitutes each.
Each of the hands below are ranked in the order of their value. In other words, the first hand described is the highest ranking and beats all hands below it.
Five of a Kind
Five of a kind is simply all four of one card plus the joker or wild card. This is not possible in all hands, but if wild cards are in play it is the best hand you can get in poker. An example of this would be all four Aces plus the Joker.
Royal Flush
The Royal Flush is the most famous hand in poker and it consists of the Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of one particular suit. It can also be done with four of those cards plus a wild card or Joker. It has to be Ace high to be a Royal Flush.
Straight Flush
The Straight Flush is just like the Royal Flush but it does not have to be Ace high. It can be any five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Four of a Kind
Four of a kind is exactly what it sounds like. Any four of the same cards or three cards and a joker.
Full House
A Full House is a hand where you have three of a kind and the other two cards are matching as well. For example you might have three Aces and two Jacks for a full house. Three of a kind plus two of a kind will get you a full house and a heck of a hand.
Flush
A flush is any five cards of the same suit. All hearts, spades, clubs or diamonds will give you a flush. If they are consecutive then it is a straight flush. If they go Ace high it is a Royal Flush. Otherwise it is simply a flush.
Three of a Kind
Any three cards that are alike in one hand equals three of a kind.
Two of a Kind
Two cards that are alike in one hand equals two of a kind.
High Card
If nobody has anything from above, then the hand goes to the player with the highest card in their hands. The cards rank in the following order:
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two…