Understanding Poker Hands: What Do They Mean?

Poker has ten possible hands, each ranked based on strength. The hands at online casinos in India are the same as in other parts of the world. Continue reading to find out what these hands are and how to use them.

One of the essential aspects of poker is understanding the different poker hands and how they work. Players use a combination of five cards to make a hand, and the value of the hand determines the winner of the game.

Below are poker hands to remember when you want to play next:

Royal flush

The royal flush is the highest-ranking hand in poker, and it consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit, ranging in value from 10 through ace. This means that the royal flush comprises the 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit. Since it's the rarest and strongest hand in poker, a royal flush is considered unbeatable in any game or variation.

Straight flush

This is a poker hand that many poker players may never see in their entire careers. Simply put, a straight flush combines both a straight and a flush. As the name suggests, it is a straight of the same suit.

Four of a kind

With only four cards of each rank available, the chances of pulling a four-of-a-kind in a 5-card draw are quite low, standing at a mere 0.026%. One example of a four-of-a-kind hand is known as "quad deuces," where a player has four 2s in their hand.

Full house

A full house, also called a full boat, is a poker hand made up of three of a kind and a pair of cards. In a full house, the ranking of the three of a kind takes precedence over the ranking of the pair when comparing two full-house hands. Therefore, a full house with Kings and 9s will always beat a full house with Queens and Aces, regardless of the rank of the paired component.

Flush

A flush is a poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit, regardless of their numerical order, that doesn't form a straight. Like a straight, a flush can range in strength depending on the highest card in the combination. For example, if all five cards in a flush are hearts, the flush is considered a heart flush, and the strength is determined by the highest card.

In the case of an Ace-high flush, as in the example given, the flush is considered the strongest hand possible. However, if two players have a flush, the player with the highest-ranking card wins the hand.

Straight

A straight is a combination of five cards in which all cards are different and consecutively ranked but not of the same suit. The term "straight" is used to describe the hand and can be qualified with the highest card in the straight, for example, "a straight to the 7." The worst possible straight is A♥️2♠️3♠️4♣️5♦️, while the best possible straight is T♦️J♠️Q♦️K♣️A♦️.

Three of a kind

A three of a kind is a relatively rare hand, occurring only once every 47 times when drawn from a standard deck of cards. This hand consists of three cards of the same rank along with two unpaired cards.

Two pair

The winning two-pair hand is determined by the higher-ranking pair. For example, a hand with a pair of Jacks and a pair of Queens, commonly referred to as "Jacks Up," beats a hand with a pair of Tens and a pair of Nines, known as "Tens Up." In a showdown, the higher-ranking two-pair hand wins. If both players have the same two pairs, the winner is decided by the fifth card's rank.

One pair

One pair hand consists of one pair of cards with three unpaired cards, making up 42% of all possible hand combinations. If both players have one pair hands, the winner is the hand with the higher-ranking pair. If both hands have the same pair, then the highest non-paired card determines the winner.

High card

A high card hand is the lowest-ranking hand that occurs when all five cards have different card ranks, do not share the same suit, and are not sequential. If two players have high card hands, the winner is determined by comparing their highest-ranking cards. If there is a tie, the next highest card is compared, and so on until a winner is declared. If both hands are identical, the pot is split between the players.

Understanding the different types of poker hands and their rankings is essential for success in the game. In India, the traditional rankings apply, but some variations may include additional hands or variations on existing hands. By familiarizing yourself with the different hands and their strengths, you can make better decisions and improve your chances of winning at Indian poker.