If you want to learn poker basics, you are in the right place. This blog covers No Limit Texas Hold’em hands combinations and starting hands ranking. Learn it by heart so you can start your journey to be the best. A poker cheat sheet is also a useful tool for beginners to quickly learn hand rankings and strategies.
You can download “Poker hand ranking cheat sheet”
Understanding Poker Basics
Understanding the basics of poker is essential for any player looking to improve their game. Poker is a card game that involves strategy, skill, and a bit of luck. The objective of the game is to win the pot by making the best five-card hand possible.
Poker is typically played with a standard deck of 52 cards, without jokers. The deck is shuffled before each hand, and players are dealt a certain number of cards, depending on the variant of poker being played. The most common variants of poker are Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
In Texas Hold’em, each player is dealt two private cards, known as “hole cards.” Five community cards are then dealt face-up on the table, which all players can use to make their best hand. In Omaha, each player is dealt four private cards, and five community cards are dealt face-up on the table.
The ranking of poker hands is the same in all variants of the game. The highest-ranking hand is the royal flush, which consists of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the same suit. The lowest-ranking hand is the high card, which is a hand that does not contain any pairs or runs.
Starting Hands in Poker
The best starting hand in poker is AA (Aces), and the worst is 7-2 off-suited. Take a look at the ranking of starting hands below and remember it. Understanding your hand strength preflop is crucial to improving your poker decision-making process. Playing poker regularly helps you gain experience and better understand hand rankings through practice and exposure to different game scenarios.
- Aces (AA) – The best starting hand in the game. If you’re dealt “Rockets,” don’t be afraid to put your money in the pot.
- Kings (KK) – The second-best starting hand in No Limit Texas Hold’em. It’s always good to have it.
- Queens (QQ) – Another powerful hand. Queens are extremely strong against most preflop ranges.
- Jacks (JJ) – Some players find Jacks tricky, but statistically, they are the 4th best starting hand in poker. If you want to learn how to play pocket pairs optimally, check out Poker Academy’s Preflop Tool for thousands of preflop scenarios.
- Ace-King Suited (AKs) – AK suited is stronger preflop than any pair below Jacks and is one of the most versatile hands. Postflop play can be complicated, but it’s still a hand you want.
- Tens (TT) – Pocket Tens are superior to most lower pairs and have a slight edge over many high card combinations.
If you have AK Off-suited (AKo), AQ suited (AQs), Pocket Nines (99), or AJ suited (AJs), you should be ready to play, as these hands rank between 7th and 10th among poker starting hands. As you move down the list to weaker hands, preflop decisions become more complicated. If you want to learn how to navigate for example pocket pairs, we encourage you to read one of Poker Academy’s previous articles, called ‘How to Play your Pocket Pairs’.
Poker Hand Rankings Introduction
Traditional Poker Hand Rankings
Understanding traditional poker hand rankings is essential for any poker player. These rankings form the foundation of poker strategy and gameplay, enabling players to quickly assess the strength of their hands during play.
High Card
This is the weakest possible hand when you haven’t made any combination. The strength of your hand is determined by the highest card in your hand or on the table.
One Pair
If you hold one pair, you beat any high-card hand. The lowest possible pair is deuces, while the highest is Aces. Higher pairs always beat lower pairs. In matchups involving pairs, the highest pair wins, and in cases where pairs match, additional cards (kickers) are used to break the tie.
Two Pair
Two pairs are stronger than one pair. The best possible two-pair hand is Aces and Kings.
Three of a Kind
Also known as “Trips” (one card in your hand, two community hands) or a “Set” (pocket pair in your hand, third card on the board). This hand consists of three cards of the same rank. Did you know there’s about a 10% chance you’ll hit a set on the flop when holding a pocket pair?
Straight
A straight is five consecutive cards of any suit (e.g., 5♥ 6♦ 7♥ 8♠ 9♣). The lowest straight is Ace to Five (A-2-3-4-5), and the highest is Ten to Ace (10-J-Q-K-A).
Flush
A flush is five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. If two players have flushes, the highest card determines the winner. If the highest card is on the board, the next highest card is used.
Full House
A full house is a combination of three of a kind and a pair (e.g., Aces full of Kings: A-A-K-K-K). This hand beats all pairs, two pairs, three of a kind, straights, and flushes.
Four of a Kind
Four of a kind, or “Quads,” is a very powerful hand, consisting of four cards of the same rank. This combination almost always wins the hand.
Straight Flush & Royal Flush
A straight flush is five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠). A straight flush beats other combinations, and the highest one wins in case of a tie. The straight flush five cards consist of five cards of the same suit arranged in numerical order. For example, a Jack high straight flush is a key example, but a Queen high straight flush would beat a Jack high straight flush. The Royal Flush, the ultimate poker hand, consists of A-K-Q-J-10, all in the same suit. This ace high straight flush, recognized specifically as a royal flush, is the best hand in games without wild cards, emphasizing its superiority over lower-ranked hands such as a straight flush or four of a kind.
Special Cases
There are several special cases in poker that players should be aware of. One of the most common special cases is the “tiebreaker.” In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by the highest kicker. For example, if two players have a pair of kings, the player with the highest kicker (the highest card that is not part of the pair) wins the hand.
Another special case is the “split pot.” In some variants of poker, if two or more players have the same hand, the pot is split equally among them. For example, if two players have a royal flush, they would split the pot.
It’s also worth noting that some variants of poker have special rules or variations. For example, in some games, the ace can be used as a low card, while in others, it can only be used as a high card.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding poker hand rankings is essential for any player looking to improve their game. By knowing the ranking of poker hands, players can make informed decisions about which hands to play and how to play them. Additionally, understanding the basics of poker and special cases can help players navigate the game with confidence.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, it’s always a good idea to review the poker hand rankings chart and familiarize yourself with the basics of the game. With practice and experience, you’ll become more comfortable with the game and be able to make better decisions at the table.
Remember, poker is a game of strategy and skill, but it’s also a game of luck. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t win every hand – keep practicing, and you’ll eventually see improvement in your game.