Poker hands and what you need to know about it

Poker hands and what you need to know about it

Every poker player, when familiarizing himself with the game, should learn about a lot: how the distribution goes, what is the largest card in poker, what combinations are, how the winner is determined in the distribution, and much more. But in this article, we decided to talk specifically about poker combinations.

We recommend that you learn them rather than check with third-party sources during the session. This will allow you to more quickly determine hand strength and perspective at various points in the hand.

Let’s note some points related to poker hands:

• In some types of poker, the precedence of the variations of cards is reversed (that is, the Royal Flush is considered the weakest hand);
• Often Ace plays the role of both the smallest and the largest card (straights A2345 and TJQKA are possible).

Classic Texas Hold’em combinations

Let’s consider all the possible combinations in Hold’em – they are used in almost all types of poker:

• Royal Flush (10 ♥ J ♥ Q ♥ K ♥ A ♥) is the highest denomination of five suited cards. This combination is not so common, often poker players spend years at the poker tables and never collect such a variation.
• Straight flush (9 ♣ 10 ♣ J ♣ Q ♣ K ♣) are five consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Four of a kind (Q ♣ Q ♥ Q ♦ Q ♠) are four cards of the same rank.
• Full House (J ♠ J ♦ J ♣ 5 ♣ 5 ♦) – three cards of one rank and two cards of another.
• Flush (2 ♦ 4 ♦ J ♦ A ♦ 6 ♦) – five cards of the same suit.
• Straight (9 ♣ 10 ♠ J ♥ Q ♣ K ♦) – five consecutive cards.
• Set (10 ♣ 10 ♠ 10 ♥) – three cards of the same rank.
• Two Pair (10 ♣ 10 ♥ K ♣ K ♦) – two pairs of cards of the same rank.
• One pair (A ♣ A ♥) – two cards of the same rank.
• High card (4 ♦ 10 ♠ K ♣ 5 ♣ J ♣) – five different cards.

Note that in Texas Hold’em, suits do not affect the strength of the combination. If two users collect Royal Flush, then the bank will have to be split equally.

Rules for composing variations

Let’s highlight some conditions in order to create the final assemblies at the table:

• In Hold’em, any combination includes five cards. Even if the player has made a pair, three more highest cards are added to the final “picture”;
• If two players have collected variations of the same strength (for example, two sets of nines), then the winner will be determined by the highest card;
• In poker there are common face-up cards that are used to make combinations for all players. They appear on the table at certain moments of the game and can turn the course of the deal at any stage (in the same Texas Holdem, 5 cards will appear on the board on the table, which can be used by all poker players);
• The players also have hole cards – pocket ones. Sometimes they are not involved in the combination.

Some tips for making combinations

When playing for real money, the prospects for collecting a certain variation will play an important role. Professionals can determine the probability of victory for themselves with mathematical precision. And based on this, make decisions during the distribution.

Here are some tips for beginner players:

• Always count your chances of collecting different combinations;
• Try to determine how strong your opponents’ hand can be;
• Calculate all the options that you can collect (even if there is the hope of collecting a Street, do not forget that a pair can fall out).

Well, having learned what is the biggest card in poker, how best to use your prospects at the table, having learned the seniority of winning combinations, you can start a full-fledged game.