Poker is a game where players can bet with a wide range of hands. Even the least skilled player can play with a few principles. Even the most skillful player needs a lot of time to learn about the wide range of hands available in the game. One should be aware of the rankings of all hands to play properly. The rankings are explained below.
How to Play Known Poker Hands
- The Royal Flush
The best hand and the easiest to win with. All five cards should be of the same type. The five card hand need not to be in the same order. However the cards within the Royal Flush need to be in the same suit. Note that the cards A-K-Q-J-10 are not included in the list.
- The Straight Flush
Any sequence of five cards of the same suit. The five cards need not to be consecutive. The cards can be in the same order as the sequence. However the cards within the sequence do not have to be in the same suit.
- Four of a Kind
This is any four cards of the same rank. The cards need not be one and the same. They could be two and two or three and three. The fifth card does not count as a card in the sequence. Note that the cards K-Q-J-10 are also not included in the list.
- The Full House
Any three of a kind. Note that the cards K-Q-J-10 are also not included in the list.
- The Flush
The cards should be of the same suit. But this is eliminated in case of sequence and the next best playable hand is the next rank lower. If the cards are of the same suit but move further apart, it becomes a straight flush. This is not including the suits. So an A-2-3-4-5 is not an ace high flush. It is just a straight. The rank does not matter in this case.
- Straight
Any sequence of cards. But the cards do not need to be consecutive. The cards can be in the same suit or different suits. But they need to be of the same rank. The highest ranking set is the straight flush. If you get similar ranks, the next best hand would be a straight flush. This hand beats all previous hands.
- Three of a kind
Basically, three of a kind include three cards of the same rank and two other cards. But if there are more than two similar ranked cards, the hand will be three of a kind. This means you have 3 cards of the same rank and 2 other cards.
- Two pairs
Basically, two pair consist of two cards of the same rank and one other card.
If you know the rules, it would be easier to determine if you have more than one hand. Just remember that 2 pairs mean 2 sets of pairs and each set of pairs can be formed from the set of two cards.
- One pair
The set of two cards referred to as one pair would include two cards of the same rank. Note that two pairs do not form a sequence. They can be similar or different. It will also be a pair if both the cards have the same rank.
- High card
In the Ace high, the cards A-K-Q-J-10 all rank the same. But the Ace can be a high card or a low card. A high card hand would have no pairs, no sequence and no similar ranks. The Ace can be high or low, giving 6 outs to victory.
When you know the rules, it would be easier to determine how to play the poker hand. Remember that the highest hand wins. If the highest hand is four of a kind, a fifth card would be required. If the highest hand is a high card hand, the next highest card would have to be the next highest card.
Calculate the Dewabet hand percentages to determine if the hand is beneficial to you as a poker player. Add the amount to call to the amount to raise. If you wish to call, you need to multiply the number of cards on the table by 2. Call amounts would depend on the number of players in the game. Bet the amount already agreed on by the other players. If you wish to raise, you need to multiply the amount by 2 while the call amount remains the same. When you are done, remove the chips from the table.
Don’t forget poker is still a game of statistics. There are 52 cards on the table and you can only use cards that have the same rank or sets. You can also use the ace as both 1 and 11. But if you do not have the appropriate cards on hand, the dealer will deal fake cards to replace them.
