Texas Hold’em poker hands are the best possible 5 card combination made up of two-hole cards and three cards from the five community cards.
There are 10 Texas Hold’em poker hands. These hands are ranked according to standard poker hand rankings, which determine the winner in a showdown.
The ten hands, ranked from highest to lowest, are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.
Every hold’em player must know these hands as they are the backbone of Texas Hold’em.
A player without the knowledge of these hands cannot understand how to, and win Texas Hold’em.
When you master these rankings, you will not only improve your game, but you will also be able to make informed betting decisions, bluff effectively, and outsmart your opponents.
No matter how experienced you are in poker, to succeed in Texas Hold’em, you must memorize and use these hands effectively.
Texas Hold’em Poker Hands Rank in Order
Texas Hold’em revolves around forming the best five-card hand, and knowing the hierarchy of these hands can significantly influence your strategy and decision-making.
Below, we will explore each hand ranking in detail, from the highest to the lowest, providing examples and explanations to help solidify your understanding. (Source)
1. Royal Flush
The Royal Flush is the highest possible hand in poker and is unbeatable. It consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all of the same suit.
Example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
This hand is incredibly rare and is often the stuff of legends in poker games. Achieving a Royal Flush requires not only skill but also a bit of luck, as it is a specific combination of cards.
2. Straight Flush
A Straight Flush is a sequence of five cards of the same suit. It ranks just below the Royal Flush.
Example: 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥
In this case, the cards are in consecutive order, and all belong to the clubs’ suit. If two players have a Straight Flush, the one with the highest top card wins.
3. Four of a Kind
Four of a Kind, also known as “quads,” consists of four cards of the same rank and one unrelated card.
Example: 3♣ 3♠ 3♦ 3♥ 4♦
In this example, the player has four Jacks and five as a kicker. If two players have Four of a Kind, the one with the higher set of four cards wins.
4. Full House
A Full House is made up of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
Example: J♠ J♥ J♣ K♣ K♦
This hand consists of three Threes and two Sixes. In the event that two players have Full Houses, the one with the higher three-of-a-kind wins. If the three of a kind are the same, then the pair is compared.
5. Flush
A Flush is a hand where all five cards are of the same suit, but not in a sequential order.
Example: 2♦ 4♦ 5♦ 9♦ K♦
In this case, all cards are spades. If two players have a Flush, the one with the highest card wins. If the highest cards are the same, the second highest is compared, and so on.
6. Straight
A Straight consists of five consecutive cards of different suits.
Example: A♦ 2♣ 3♦ 4♠ 5♣
Here, the cards are in sequence but not in the same suit. If two players have a Straight, the one with the highest top card wins.
7. Three of a Kind
Three of a Kind consists of three cards of the same rank and two unrelated cards.
Example: 7♣7♦7♠ 4♣ 5♦
In this hand, the player has three Aces and two other cards. If two players have Three of a Kind, the one with the higher set of three wins.
8. Two Pair
Two Pairs consist of two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one unrelated card.
Example: 9♦9♠K♦K♥4♣
This hand has two Queens and two Fives. If two players have Two Pairs, the one with the higher pair wins. If the pairs are the same, the fifth card (the kicker) is compared.
9. One Pair
One Pair consists of two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards.
Example: 10♦10♠3♠ Q♦ K♣
In this case, the player has a pair of Eights. If two players have One Pair, the player with the higher pair wins. If the pairs are the same, the remaining cards are compared in descending order.
10. High Card
When a player has none of the above hands, the highest card in their hand determines the strength of their hand.
Example: K♣2♥4♦8♦Q♠
In this situation, the player’s highest card is a King. If two players have only a High Card, the player with the higher card wins. If both have the same high card, the next highest card is compared, and so forth.
Starting Hands in Texas Hold’em
In Texas Hold’em, the two cards each player is initially dealt are known as their “hole cards” or “starting hands.” (Source)
The strength and playability of these cards are crucial factors in determining a player’s strategy and chances of winning a hand.
There are best and worst starting hands. If you get the best starting hands, your chances of winning greatly increase, but if you get the worst starting hands, you may have to fold as your odds of winning are less.
Therefore, knowing the different types of starting hands and their strengths is key to making good decisions.
The 169 Non-Equivalent Starting Hands
There are 1,326 possible combinations of two-hole cards in a standard 52-card deck. However, since suits have no absolute value in Texas Hold’em, many of these combinations are considered equivalent.
For example, A♥K♥ and A♣K♣ are identical in value before the flop. After removing these redundant combinations, there are 169 “non-equivalent” starting hands in Texas Hold’em. These 169 hands can be further categorized into three main types:
13 pocket pairs (e.g., AA, KK, QQ)
78 suited hands (e.g., AKs, 87s, 32s)
78 unsuited hands (e.g., AKo, 87o, 32o)
Top 20 Starting Hands
While all 169 starting hands have the potential to win, some are significantly stronger than others. Here are the top 20 starting hands ranked by strength:
Pocket Aces (AA)
Pocket Kings (KK)
Pocket Queens (QQ)
Ace-King suited (AKs)
Pocket Jacks (JJ)
Ace-Queen suited (AQs)
Ace-Jack suited (AJs)
Pocket Tens (TT)
King-Queen suited (KQs)
Ace-King unsuited (AKo)
Pocket Nines (99)
Jack-Ten suited (JTs)
Pocket Eights (88)
Ace-Queen unsuited (AQo)
Pocket Sevens (77)
Ten-Nine suited (T9s)
Ace-Jack unsuited (AJo)
King-Queen unsuited (KQo)
Pocket Sixes (66)
Nine-Eight suited (98s)
Hand Types
As mentioned earlier, starting hands in Texas Hold’em can be categorized into three main types:
Pairs
Pocket pairs are hands where both hole cards are of the same rank. They offer the potential to make a strong hand, such as a set or quads, and are often played aggressively.
The higher the pair, the stronger the hand, with pocket aces being the best-starting hand in the game.
Suited Hands
Suited hands are those where both hole cards are of the same suit. They have the potential to make strong flush draws and can play well in multiway pots.
Suited connectors, such as 78s or JTs, are particularly valuable as they can make strong hands like straights and flushes.
Unsuited Hands
Unsuited hands are those where the hole cards are of different suits. They generally have less potential than suited hands, but can still be profitable to play, especially if they are high cards or connected. Hands like AKo and QJs are examples of strong unsuited hands.
What is the Importance of Starting Hands?
The strength of a player’s starting hand is one of the most important factors in determining their chances of winning a hand.
Players should be selective about the starting hands they choose to play, especially from an early position.
Hands like AA, KK, and AKs should almost always be played, while weaker hands like 72o or 85o should usually be folded.
Tie-Breakers and Kickers
In Texas Hold’em, ties between players are resolved using kickers, which are the additional cards that help determine the winner when players have equivalent hands.
For instance, if two players both have a pair of Kings, the player with the highest kicker card wins the pot. If Player A has K♠ K♦ 5♣ 3♥ 2♦ and Player B has K♣ K♥ 6♦ 4♠ 2♣, Player B wins with a 6 kicker.
In cases of two pairs, the highest pair is compared first; if that is the same, the second pair is assessed, and if both pairs are identical, the highest kicker comes into play.
For example, if the community cards are 10♣ 10♦ 7♠ 7♥ 3♣, and Player A has A♠ 3♦ while Player B has K♣ 3♥, both players have two pairs (10s and 7s), but Player A wins with the Ace kicker.
In scenarios where all five cards are identical, the pot is split.
Basic Strategies for Hand Selection
Fold weak hands that have little chance of improving to a strong hand. This includes hands like 72o, 85o, and J4s.
Call with hands that have good implied odds, like suited connectors and small-medium pocket pairs. These hands have the potential to make strong hands but don’t want to commit too much money preflop.
Raise with premium hands like AA, KK, AK, and big-suited aces. Raising with these hands allows you to build a bigger pot when you have the best of it.
Conclusion
For players to make informed decisions at the poker table, it is essential to understand the rankings and probabilities of Texas Hold’em poker hands.
While a strong starting hand gives you an advantage, the community cards ultimately determine the winner.
Learning how to read hands, calculate pot odds, and play optimally will help you win more money.
However, poker is a game of skill and luck, so it’s important to stay disciplined, manage your bankroll wisely, and most importantly, have fun.
Based on my own experience, I can assure you that with practice and a good knowledge of hand rankings, you will soon become a proficient Texas Hold’em player. Remember, the nuts are always good.
