Learn the Different Hand Rankings
This video is going to give you a better understanding of
how the different hand ranking s work. There are a few things you need
to know about how the hand rankings work before you can play poker properly.
Since you have already watched the last video in the series, I will assume
you have a basic understanding of the different hand rankings, if not,
go back now to the first video in the series.
Royal Flush
The best possible hand you can get in poker is the Royal Flush. It only
comes around once in a blue moon; I’ve been playing poker for over
10 years and have only seen it a few times. The royal flush is made up
of 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit.
Straight Flush
The next best hand is the Straight flush. A straight flush is made up
of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. They can be any 5 consecutive
cards – 2 through 6, 9 through K – as long as they are all
the same suit. Your straight flush cannot start with anything higher than
a 10 or anything lower than an ace – for instance, you can’t
have a straight flush that goes Q, K, A, 2, 3. A straight flush that ends
with a higher card than yours will beat you – if you share the highest
card then you will split the pot.
4 of a Kind
The next best hand is 4 of a kind. This one’s easy – any 4
cards of the same denomination. Ie – 9, 9, 9, 9 or J, J, J, J. If
2 players at a table manage to get 4 of a kind, then the player whose
cards are the highest denomination wins. If 2 or more players get dealt
exactly the same 4 of a kind, then the player who has the highest kicker
wins. If 2 or more players have the same kicker, then they split the pot
between them (also known as a chopped pot)
The extra card not being used is known as the kicker. Kickers
are more important in other hands because it is more likely that 2 or
more players will have the same hand. If this happens, then the player
with the best kicker will win. This is important to take into consideration
when you are betting. I will explain more about kickers in a minute.
Full House
After 4 of a kind comes the Full House. A full house is made up of 2 cards
of the same value and 3 cards of the same value. If 2 players both have
a full house, the player whose 3 cards are higher wins the pot (GIVE EXAMPLE)
if 2 players have a full house with the same 3 cards, then the player
whose 2 cards are of higher value wins the pot. Once again, if 2 or more
players both have the same full house, then it is a split pot.
Flush
The next best hand is a flush. A flush is made up of any 5 cards of the
same suit. These cards are NOT in numerical order, because that would
be a straight flush. Your flush could be made up of 7, 2, J, 6, K or 10,
J, Q, 6, 7. If both players have a flush, the player with the higher cards
(in numerical order) in their flush wins the pot.
In poker, a draw is when you are trying to get certain cards
to complete you hand. If you were on a flush draw, you may have 4 hearts
and need one more to finish off your flush. If you were on a straight
draw you may have 5,6,7,8 and need either a 4 or a 9 to complete your
straight.
Straight
The next best poker hand is the straight. You can have a straight by having
5 cards of any suit in numerical order. For instance 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 made
up of any suit. The same rules of the straight flush apply here –
that is, your straight can’t start with anything less than or exceed
the Ace. Your straight cannot start with anything higher than a 10 or
anything lower than an ace – for instance, you can’t have
a straight that goes Q, K, A, 2, 3. A straight that ends with a higher
card than yours will beat you – if you share the highest card then
you will split the pot.
There are different kinds of straight draws that you need
to be aware of. If you have, say, 5,6,7,8 and need either a 4 or a 9 to
complete your straight – this is known as an open ended straight
draw. A gutshot straight draw is when you are missing one of the middle
cards needed to complete your straight – 6,7,_,9,10 – or 2,_,4,5,6.
3 of a Kind
After the straight, we have 3 of a kind. As the name suggests, 3 of a
kind is 3 cards of the same value. For instance J, J, J, 3, 7. If more
than one player has 3 of a kind, the player with the highest 3 of a kind
will win the pot. If 2 or more players have the same 3 of a kind, then
the kickers will decide who wins the pot.
This is where your kickers start becoming more important.
As the hand rankings become more and more common, it is important to consider
the strength of your kicker because it is more likely that someone at
the table will have the same hand as you. You should be careful when playing
with low kickers or you will learn very fast that they will cost you at
the tables.
2 Pair
The next best hand in poker is 2 pair. 2 pair is pretty self explanatory
– you basically have 2 pairs. Ie – 5, 5, K, K, 7. If 2 players
both have 2 pair, the player with the highest pair wins. If you have the
same 3 pair, the player with the highest kicker wins. If your hands are
completely identical, then you will split the pot.
1 Pair
After 2 pair comes 1 pair. 1 pair is the most common hand in poker and
you should be wary about playing a hand with a low pair. I will explain
this further in the “starting hands” video.
High Card
The final hand you can have in poker is the high card. If no one at the
table manages to make any of the hands I’ve already mentioned, then
the player with the highest card wins. It’s usually pretty obvious
when no one has a hand because the action will just check around without
betting. In these situations, it’s usually the first player who
bets that wins.
The most important thing to understand is that the only way
you’re going to improve your poker skills is through practice. All
the videos and books in the world can’t make up for actual experience
at the poker tables. Online poker is the best and the easiest way to get
the necessary practice. You can start out playing for free or for as little
as 5 cents a hand, until you feel comfortable enough to graduate to some
more exciting games. I have prepared a special video on practicing using
online poker – it will show you the easiest way to get started playing
some actual poker right now. This is the most important video on this
site and I urge you to watch it right now.
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