Poker is a game rich in strategy and psychology. Hence, to succeed in this game, players must have the right skills and a deep understanding of the game’s dynamics. In poker, players compete to form the best five-card hand from their own cards and community cards. The hierarchy of these hands determines who wins each pot.

Beginners, in particular, should prioritise learning these rankings to be able to assess the strength of their hand, make informed decisions, and adapt their strategy accordingly. Knowing the value of different hands allows players to determine when to bet aggressively, fold, or call.

Poker Hand Rankings

Mastering poker hand rankings is a critical first step in developing one’s poker skills and enhancing overall gameplay – whether they play at a brick-and-mortar casino or online casino site in Singapore. Here are the poker hands ranked from highest to lowest:

Royal Flush

A Royal Flush is the highest possible hand in poker. It is made out of five cards in consecutive order of 10–Jack–Queen–King–Ace, all of the same suit. A Royal Flush hand is extremely rare, with odds of roughly 1 in 30,939.

How to Play: When holding a royal flush, players should play aggressively since it is unbeatable and is guaranteed to win. The worst possible outcome with a royal flush is splitting the pot with another royal flush.

Straight Flush

A Straight Flush is a hand of five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5–6–7–8–9 of Spades, and 7–8–9–10–Jack of Hearts). This poker hand is less common than Four of a Kind, but more common than a Royal Flush, with odds of roughly 1 in 3,437.8.

Straight flush hands will beat all other poker hands—it is better than Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, and so on down the poker hand list. But a straight flush can be beaten by a royal flush and a higher-ranking straight flush. For instance, a Jack-high straight flush (i.e., 7–8–9–10–Jack hand) beats a 7-high straight flush (i.e., 3–4–5–6–7).

How to Play: Similar to a royal flush, play aggressively. With a straight flush hand, consider betting high and even raising. In situations where players are certain no opponent holds a royal flush, they are likely to win. However, if they suspect other opponents may have stronger hands that could lead them to bet more, players with straight flush should consider slow play.

Four of a Kind

A Four of a Kind is a hand that has four cards of the same rank or value (e.g., K–K–K–K–5). This is a strong hand that can win over most other poker card hands—beating a Full House, Flush, Straight, and so on down the poker hand list.

Similar to a straight flush, a four of a kind can be beaten by a higher four of a kind. The value of a four-of-a-kind hand is determined by the rank of the four cards. An Ace-high four-of-a-kind is the strongest, while a four-of-a-kind made up of lower-ranking cards is weaker. Subsequently, a straight flush and a royal flush can beat any four of a kind.

How to Play: A four of a kind hand often guarantees a strong position – players can bet confidently but with caution, particularly if there is a potential for higher hands. Bluffing with a four of a kind hand should only be done if players believe their opponents are overly confident.

Full House

A Full House is made out of three cards of the same value and two cards of another matching value (e.g., J–J–J–4–4, and 7–7–A–A–A). This is a powerful hand that often wins pots. A full house generally beats a flush, a straight, and all other lower poker hand values in the poker hand list and is only beaten by a higher full house and the three highest poker hands – royal flush, straight flush, and four of a kind.

How to Play: As full house usually dominates in most games, players with this hand can bet aggressively. If they sense that their opponents may have a weaker full house or a flush, players can raise all-in to maximise their winnings.

Flush

A Flush poker hand is composed of five cards of the same suit not in sequence (e.g., 8–K–6–3–A of Diamonds). It is strong against straights, three of a kind, and so on down the poker hand list, but can be weak against higher flush poker hands, four of a kind, full house, royal flush, and straight flush.

How to Play: With a flush poker hand, players can play assertively, but with caution, especially if the table shows possible full houses and higher poker hands. Players with relatively low flush hands can also consider slow play until they gauge the strength of their opponents’ hands.

Straight

A Straight hand in poker consists of five consecutive cards of any suit (e.g., 10–9–8–7–6 and 5–4–3–2–A). This hand is fairly common but can be difficult to spot in play.

Straight poker hands are weaker than a flush, full house, and all the higher poker hands and can also be beaten by a higher straight. But these hands can still beat three of kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card.

How to Play: Straights are strong but vulnerable to flushes, so players should bet wisely, particularly if suited cards appear on the table. Players can also seldomly bluff with a straight hand if they suspect opponents may have lower hands.

Three of a Kind

A Three of a Kind is a poker hand that has three cards of the same rank, supported by two unmatched cards (e.g., Q–Q–Q–7–6). It is often good for a win, beating two pair, one pair, and high card, but still is not one of the best winning poker hands. Three of a kind can be beaten by a higher-ranking three of a kind, straight, and other higher-ranking poker hands.

How to Play: Players with three of a kind hands can play confidently but need to be wary of potential straights or flushes. If they have a strong three of a kind, players can also consider slow play to let their opponents bet more and increase the pot.

Two Pair

A Two Pair hand in poker consists of two cards of one value and two cards of another value, supported by one unmatched card (e.g., A–A–K–K–5). This is a decent hand that beats one pair and high card hands but can easily lose to three of a kind or higher poker hand combinations.

How to Play: With a two pair hand, players should bet moderately and keep an eye out for three of a kind, straights, flushes, and other higher poker hands. They can also consider a modest raise if they have a higher two pair hand.

One Pair

A One Pair poker hand consists of two cards of the same value, accompanied by three cards of different ranks (e.g., J–J–Q–K–6). This hand is quite common and can beat high card poker hands but is generally weak compared to other hands. A one pair hand can also lose against a higher one pair hand, with a pair of Aces being the highest.

How to Play: Aim for a second pair or even three of a kind by watching the cards dealt—look for opportunities on the flop or turn that could improve your hand. In scenarios where multiple players are betting aggressively, it may be wise for players to fold a one pair hand, as higher hands could be in play.

High Card

A High Card hand is the weakest hand rank in poker. It consists of five cards that do not have two matching cards, ranked by the highest card present (e.g., A–K–Q–J–8). High card poker hands can be strong hands in games where no pairs or combinations exist, but these can be weak hands when facing aggressive betting from opponents.

How to Play: As high card hands have low winning potential, players should use this with caution and mainly for bluffing purposes.

How to Use Poker Hands Cheat Sheet During Play

A poker cheat sheet is a handy tool for both beginners and experienced players alike wanting to play live casino games online in Singapore. Here is how to use it effectively:

Keep it accessible.Players can print out or save a digital version of the cheat sheet on their mobile device so that it’s easily accessible during games.

Familiarise the layout.It would even be better if players familiarise themselves with the cheat sheet layout so they can quickly find information when needed.

Use it for quick reference.Before or after play, players can refer to their cheat sheet for clarification if they are unsure about which hand beats another. It is best for players to keep their cheat sheet in their pocket in the middle of a game as respect for opponents at the table.

Try Your Poker Hands Cheat Sheet Knowledge at 88ProBet

To truly solidify your understanding of poker hand rankings and improve your skills, practical application is needed. One effective way to do this is by utilising online casino platforms like 88ProBet, where you can engage in demo and real-time games that can challenge your knowledge and decision-making abilities.

Register for an account here to get started with your online poker gaming journey.