Texas Hold 'em hand rankings and defining the winner hand

Royal Flush		Straight
Straight Flush from 10 to Ace		Five consecutive cards of any suit. Comparing two straight hands the hand with higher card wins
Straight Flush		Three of a kind
Five consecutive cards, all of the same suit		Three cards of the same rank
Four of a Kind		Two pair
Four cards of the same rank		Two cards of the same rank plus another two cards of the same rank
Full House		One Pair
Three cards of the same rank and another two cards of the same rank. Comparing two Full House hands the hand with higher trip wins		Two cards of the same suit
Flush		Highest card
Five cards of the same suit. A Flush with the highest card wins among other flush hands		When no player at the table has any of the shown above combinations, player with the highest card in his hand wins

Learn more about poker at poker school

Details of defining the winner hand

Some troubles in defining the winner may occur if you and your partner have the same combination in hand.

There is a concept of «Kicker» in poker, which is the highest card in your hand, not taking part in a combination.

Now let's look closer how to define the winner hand in different cases:

1. You and your partner both have highest card: in this case wins the player with the highest card from five cards among the cards on the table and in his hand. If the highest cards are same ranked, then winner is defined by the second highest card etc. If all cards are same ranked, then the pot gets split.

2. If you and your partner both have a pair, player with a higher pair wins, if both pairs are same ranked, then the winner is defined by kicker — three highest cards among cards on the table and in player's hand, which are not a part of a pair.

3. If both players have two pair, then winner is defined by the rank of a higher pair, if they are same ranked — by the lower pair, if they are same ranked too — by kicker.

4. If you and your partner both have three of a kind: player with the highest rank of his trips wins. For example, if you have three Aces and your partner has three Queens, you win.

5. If you and your partner both have straight, then winner is defined by the rank of the highest card of his straight.

6. If both players have flush, player with the highest card wins.

7. If both players have full house, winner is defined by the rank of trips. For example, if you have pair Kings and three fives, and your partner has two Aces and three fours, you win.

8. If both players have four of a kind, winner is defined by the rank of his four cards.

9. If both players have straight flush, player with the highest card wins.

10. If both players have royal flush, it is a split pot.

Notice: Some people misbelieve, that in such hands, as royal flush, straight flush and flush, winner is defined by the rank of suit, but it is a mistake, in poker all suits are even ranked.