Poker Hand Rankings

In most casinos, poker is played with a standard fifty two card deck, with the Ace as the highest ranking card. Following the Ace are the King, Queen, Jack and Ten through Two in descending order. In games with a split pot, the Ace acts as tow cards in one; both the highest and lowest ranking. Because of this duality, an Ace in Omaha Poker is a decided advantage.

Poker Hand Rankings are decided according to their rarity and probability. The rarer a hand is, the less likely it will be that it will appear and so it is ranked higher. The first and highest ranked hand in the game is the Royal flush. This hand is comprised of five cards in descending order, from Ace to Ten, all bearing the same suit. There are four Royal flushes to every deck, yet they are extremely rare. After the Royal Flush we have the straight flush. It is similar to the Royal, only in this case, the Ace takes the lower attribute. In this way, the straight flush is any group of cards in ascending or descending order that have the same suit.

Next in the list of poker hand rankings is the Four of a Kind hand ranking. This hand consists of four cards bearing the same value. In this hand, there cannot be any ties, since the hand that has the higher value wins. The odd, fifth card has no weight in determining the winner. After the Four of a Kind we find the Full house. This hand consists of three cards bearing the same value, and another pair of cards bearing the same value. As in the Four of a Kind, in this hand ranking there can be no ties, either. The higher of the groups of three cards is the winning hand.

Next on the list we find the Flush. This hand consists of five cards that have the same suit, but are not in any kind of sequence. If there are two flushes, then the hand with the highest ranking card wins. If there is a tie, then the hand that has the second highest card wins. If there is still a tie, then the third highest, and so forth. Then, there is the straight. The straight is similar to the Royal Flush, only that in this case the cards are not of the same suit. If there are two straights, then the higher ranking one is the winner. Ties are possible in this situation.

Next we have the Three of a Kind. In this poker hand ranking, there are three cards bearing the same value, and another two odd cards. Between two hands that both have three of a kind, the one with the higher ranking cards wins. Ties are quite impossible. After this hand we find a hand that consists of two pairs. In this hand, there are two cards that bear the same value, plus two additional cards that have the same value, and an odd card. In the case of two pairs, the hand with the higher pair wins. Finally, we have the hand that consists of two cards that bear the same value, and another three odd cards. In the case of two hands that bear pairs, then the hand with the higher pair wins. Ties are possible in this hand as well.

Written by Barbara Harper, Professional Poker Player, 17.01.06

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