9 Essential Poker Hand Rankings

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Poker is a popular card game that involves strategy, skill, and a bit of luck. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, understanding the basics of poker hand rankings is essential to improving your game. In this article, we'll break down the 9 essential poker hand rankings, from the strongest to the weakest, and provide examples to help you better understand each hand.

1. Royal Flush

A Royal Flush is the strongest possible hand in poker, consisting of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the same suit. This hand is extremely rare, occurring in only about 1 in 649,739 hands. If you're lucky enough to get a Royal Flush, you can be confident that you'll win the hand.

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2. Straight Flush

A Straight Flush is similar to a Royal Flush, but it can be any five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 3-4-5-6-7 of hearts is a Straight Flush. This hand is still extremely strong, but not as rare as a Royal Flush.

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3. Four of a Kind

Four of a Kind is a hand that consists of four cards of the same rank, with the fifth card being any rank. For example, 4-4-4-4-9 is Four of a Kind. This hand is strong, but can be beaten by a Straight Flush or Royal Flush.

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4. Full House

A Full House is a hand that consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, 3-3-3-J-J is a Full House. This hand is strong, but can be beaten by Four of a Kind or higher.

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5. Flush

A Flush is a hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, but not consecutive. For example, 2-4-7-9-10 of hearts is a Flush. This hand is strong, but can be beaten by a Straight Flush or higher.

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6. Straight

A Straight is a hand that consists of five consecutive cards of any suit. For example, 5-6-7-8-9 is a Straight. This hand is strong, but can be beaten by a Flush or higher.

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7. Three of a Kind

Three of a Kind is a hand that consists of three cards of the same rank, with the other two cards being any rank. For example, K-K-K-4-2 is Three of a Kind. This hand is decent, but can be beaten by a Straight or higher.

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8. Two Pair

Two Pair is a hand that consists of two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, with the fifth card being any rank. For example, K-K-2-2-5 is Two Pair. This hand is decent, but can be beaten by Three of a Kind or higher.

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9. One Pair

One Pair is a hand that consists of two cards of the same rank, with the other three cards being any rank. For example, K-K-3-7-2 is One Pair. This hand is weak, but can still win if the other players have weaker hands.

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In conclusion, understanding the 9 essential poker hand rankings is crucial to improving your game. By recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of each hand, you can make more informed decisions and increase your chances of winning.