Ever wondered what beats a Full House in poker? If so, you're probably facing some tough competition at the poker table. To excel in online poker or even casual games, it's essential to understand the ranking of poker hands.
This guide will explain how poker hand rankings work and help you determine the winning hand in a game. Questions like "Does a Full House beat Four of a Kind?" or "Can a Straight beat a Flush?" will be answered as we explore the rankings.
How Poker Hands Are Ranked
Whether you're playing online poker for real money or just trying to impress your friends, knowing how poker hands are ranked is crucial. A good poker face alone won’t cut it.
Step one in learning poker is understanding how your hand stacks up against others. Asking what beats a Full House every time you play isn’t a winning strategy. You need to know how strong your hand is to make smart moves like raising your bet or knowing when to fold. Poker hand rankings are consistent across different games like Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and online video poker. Let's explore the poker hand rankings and find out what beats a Full House!
Poker Hand Rankings
Let’s break down the poker hands from the weakest to the strongest, so you’ll know exactly what can beat a Full House.
10. High Card
When no other hand is formed, the highest card wins. The Ace is the top-ranking card, followed by the King, Queen, Jack, and 10.
9. One Pair
A Pair consists of two cards of the same value. They don’t need to match in suit or colour, just in value. But a Pair won’t beat a Full House.
8. Two Pair
Two Pair means you’ve got two different pairs. For example, two nines and two fives.
7. Three of a Kind
Three of a Kind is when you have three cards of the same value. This hand does not surpass a Full House.
6. Straight
A Straight is five cards in a sequence, but not necessarily the same suit. In 3-Card Poker, you only need three cards in sequence.
5. Flush
A Flush means you have five cards of the same suit. Easy to spot, but it still doesn’t beat a Full House.
4. Full House
A Full House is a combination of Three of a Kind and a Pair. This hand is strong but not unbeatable.
3. Four of a Kind
Four of a Kind means having four cards of the same value. For example, four Queens.
2. Straight Flush
A Straight Flush is five cards in a row, all in the same suit. This hand is very rare and powerful.
1. Royal Flush
The Royal Flush is the best hand in poker. It’s a Straight Flush but with the top five cards: 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, all in the same suit. Some players go their whole lives without seeing one!
Understanding these rankings is key to mastering poker. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to handle your next game confidently and know exactly what beats a Full House.
Popular Poker Variants: Texas Hold'em and Seven-Card Stud
Texas Hold'em and Seven-Card Stud are two of the most popular poker variants where the highest-ranking hand wins. These games use a 52-card deck without jokers, consisting of four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.
Each suit is equal in value, and there are 13 ranks in each suit. The Ace is the highest-ranking card, followed by the King, Queen, Jack, and 10 through 2 (or deuce). Interestingly, an Ace can also serve as the lowest card in a 5-high straight (5-4-3-2-A), known as a wheel or bicycle.
Although both Stud and Hold'em involve seven cards, the best hand is determined by the best five-card combination. Hand rankings are based on probability: the rarer the hand, the more valuable it is.
Here’s a quick look at poker hand rankings from highest to lowest:
- Royal Flush: The best possible hand, consisting of A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank plus one unrelated card.
- Full House: Three cards of one rank and a pair of another.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
- Straight: Five sequenced cards, not all of the same suit.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards.
- Two Pair: Two pairs of different ranks plus one unrelated card.
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank plus three unrelated cards.
- High Card: When no other hand is made, the highest card wins.
By mastering these hand rankings, you’ll be well-prepared for any poker game, knowing precisely what beats a Full House and other hands. So you can go out and try your hand at the best betting sites.