Winning with Poker Hands at 12bet: Strategies and Hand Rankings
In poker, the strength of your hand determines your chances of winning a particular round or hand. Poker hands are combinations of cards that players use to form their best possible five-card hand. The ranking of these hands is essential as it determines the winner in a showdown. Our 12bet guide will explore the different poker hands in detail to help you understand how hands work when gaming in either traditional or online casinos, starting from the strongest to the weakest:
Royal Flush: Unbeatable Poker Hand
The royal flush is the epitome of poker hands, an unbeatable combination that represents the pinnacle of achievement in the game. It consists of an Ace, King, Queen Jack, and Ten cards, all from the same suit. Rare and exceptional, a royal flush guarantees victory against any other hand, making it the most coveted and celebrated hand in poker. The thrill of obtaining a royal flush is unparalleled, symbolizing prestige, skill, and ultimate triumph at the poker table.
A Royal Flush is made up of four different combinations:
Straight Flush: Five Consecutive Suit Cards
A Straight Flush is a powerful and sought-after hand in poker. It is a combination of five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of hearts. The Straight Flush ranks just below the Royal Flush, making it one of the highest-ranking hands in the game.
A Straight Flush is relatively rare and its probability of occurring depends on the number of decks used in the game. In a standard 52-card deck, there are 40 possible Straight Flush combinations. The Straight Flush is a strong hand that often leads to significant wins in poker games. It is essential to recognize its potential and play strategically when you have this hand.
Four of a Kind: Four Identically Ranked Cards
Four of a Kind is a formidable and high-ranking hand in poker. It consists of four cards of the same rank, accompanied by any fifth card, which is referred to as the ‘kicker.’ For example, four Kings with a 7 kicker.
In the hierarchy of poker hands, Four of a Kind ranks below a Straight Flush and above a Full House. It is one of the strongest hands a player can have and it often leads to significant wins in poker games.
If multiple players have Four of a Kind in the same round, the player with the highest set of four cards wins. In case of a tie, the player with the highest kicker card prevails. For instance, if two players have four Jacks, the player with the higher fifth card (kicker) wins the hand.
Full House: Three same-ranked cards with a Pair
A Full House is a powerful and well-known hand in poker, often associated with excitement and winning opportunities. It consists of three cards of the same rank, combined with a pair of cards of a different rank. For example, three Kings and two Tens.
In the hierarchy of poker hands, a Full House ranks below a Four of a Kind and above a Flush. It is a strong hand that can lead to significant wins in poker games.
When multiple players have a Full House in the same round, the player with the highest three cards of the same rank wins. If there is a tie, the player with the highest pair of cards wins. For instance, if two players have a Full House with three Aces and two Kings, the player with the higher-ranking pair of Kings wins the hand.
Flush: Five non-sequential suits
A Flush is a strong and sought-after hand in poker. It consists of any five cards of the same suit, not necessarily in consecutive order. For example, 2, 5, 8, Jack, and Ace of Hearts. In the hierarchy of poker hands, a Flush ranks below a Full House and above a Straight. It is a powerful hand that often leads to significant wins in poker games.
When multiple players have a Flush in the same round, the player with the highest-ranking card in the Flush wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards are used to break the tie. For instance, if two players have a Flush with the highest card being a Queen, the player with the second-highest card (if it’s higher than the other player’s) wins the hand.
The probability of obtaining a Flush depends on the number of decks used in the game and the total number of cards. It is relatively common compared to some of the higher-ranking hands, making it a popular and achievable goal for poker players.
Straight: Five successive suit cards
Straight is a classic and significant hand in poker. It is a combination of five consecutive cards of any suit. For example, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of mixed suits. In the hierarchy of poker hands, a Straight ranks below a Flush and above Three of a Kind. It is a strong hand that can lead to wins in poker games.
When multiple players have a Straight in the same round, the player with the highest-ranking card at the top of the sequence wins. For instance, if one player has a Straight with 9, 10, J, Q and K, while another player has a Straight with 8, 9, 10, J and Q, the first player wins because a King is higher than a Queen.
Three of a Kind: Three game cards of the same rank
Three of a Kind is a strong and valuable hand in poker. It consists of three cards of the same rank, accompanied by two unrelated cards. For example, three Queens with a 5 and a 9 as the unrelated cards. In the hierarchy of poker hands, Three of a Kind ranks below a Straight and above Two Pairs. It is a powerful hand that can lead to wins in poker games.
When multiple players have Three of a Kind in the same round, the player with the highest-ranking three cards wins. If necessary, the two unrelated cards are used to break the tie. For instance, if two players have Three of a Kind with the highest three cards being Kings, the player with the higher unrelated cards (if it’s higher than the other player’s) wins the hand.
Two Pair: A set of cards of the same rank
Two Pair is a strong and favorable hand in poker. It consists of two sets of two cards of the same rank, along with an unrelated fifth card. For example, two Kings, two 5s, and a 9 as the unrelated card. In the hierarchy of poker hands, Two Pair ranks below Three of a Kind and above One Pair. It is a powerful hand that can lead to wins in poker games.
When multiple players have Two Pair in the same round, the player with the highest-ranking pair wins. If there is a tie, the player with the highest unrelated card (kicker) wins. For instance, if two players have Two Pair with one pair of Kings and one pair of 8s, the player with the highest unrelated card (if it’s higher than the other player’s) wins the hand.
One Pair: Two cards with matching rank
A One Pair is a poker hand that includes two cards of the same rank, accompanied by three unrelated cards, known as kickers. For instance, holding a pair of Jacks with a King, Queen, and seven as the kickers form One Pair. It is the lowest-ranking hand in the poker hand hierarchy.
While a pair may not be as powerful as other combinations, it still carries significance in the game. Having a pair indicates that a player has at least one matching rank in their hand, increasing their chances of forming higher-ranking hands in later rounds.
High Card: Lowest Ranking Hand
A High Card is the most basic and lowest-ranking hand in poker, forming when a player does not create any standard poker combinations. It occurs when none of the cards in a player’s hand have matching ranks or contribute to the usual hand combinations. In such cases, the hand’s value is solely determined by the highest-ranked card held by the player.
For instance, if a player’s highest card is an Ace, they would have an Ace-high hand. In the event that multiple players have High Card hands, the winner is determined by comparing the ranks of their highest cards, followed by the ranks of their subsequent cards in descending order.
High Card hands are generally regarded as the weakest in poker, as they rely solely on the individual ranks of the cards and lack the strength of more substantial combinations. Players with High Card hands often seek to improve their chances by drawing additional cards in subsequent betting rounds.
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Conclusion
Mastering the art of playing every possible poker hand before the flop requires skill and knowledge, but following these principles can elevate your game. Experience is crucial for identifying opportunities and avoiding errors, as many decisions depend on the situation and your opponents.
Even the finest players lose more hands than they win, but striving to make the best choices whenever possible should be your objective. If you’re ready to dive into online poker, check out an online gaming platform like 12bet to try and win big.
