Hand Ranking

Online Poker Hand Ranks and Odds:

In this section, we’re going to discuss online poker hand ranks, from highest to lowest. We’ll then give you the exact probabilities of achieving each poker hand, as a 5-card poker hand, or a 7-card poker hand.

Online Poker Hand Ranks
Royal Flush: The absolute highest ranking poker hand of them all, a Royal Flush is a straight of 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, where all cards are of the same suit. (Ex: 10s-Js-Qs-Ks-As)

Straight Flush: A straight flush is any straight where all the cards are of the same suit. (Ex: 5h-6h-7h-8h-9h)

4 of a Kind: A poker hand with four cards of the exact same value. (Ex: 7-7-7-7-3)

Full House: A poker hand that consists of one “3 of a Kind” and one “Pair”. The 3 of a Kind is called the “over”. For instance, if the hand is J-J-J-5-5, it is called a “Full House, Jacks over Fives”. If the hand were 5-5-5-J-J, it would be called “Full House, Fives over Jacks”.

Flush: This is a poker hand where all five cards are of the same suit. Should two players have a Flush, the highest card in each flush determines the winner. If both players have the same high card, the next high card takes precedence, and so on until one player has the higher hand. For instance, Player 1 has Ac-Jc-10c-7c-2c, Player 2 has Ah-Jh-9h-8-4h. Player 1 wins because the Ace and Jack match, but the 10 is higher than the 9.

Straight: A poker hand where all five cards connect in sequence. The suits do not matter. If two players have a straight, the player with the highest card wins. (Ex: 9-10-J-Q-K beats 3-4-5-6-7)

3 of a Kind: A poker hand with three cards of the exact same value. (Ex: A-A-A-6-3)

2 Pair: A hand with one “Pair”, plus one more “Pair”. If two players have 2 Pair, the player with the highest Pair wins. (Ex: Q-Q-8-8-6)

Pair: A poker hand with two cards of the exact same value. (Ex: K-K-6-3-2)

High Card: When a poker hand has none of the combinations listed above, it is called High Card. The highest card in the hand determines its strength. For instance, Ace high beats King High, Jack High beats 9 High, etc. (Ex: A-Q-6-3-2 is Ace High)

Online Poker Hand Probabilities – 5 Card Hand
In this section, we are comparing the probabilities of achieving specific hands when you are only dealt a total of 5 cards. Examples of online poker games where players are given only 5 cards include 5 Card Stud and Let Em Ride Poker.

Below is a rough estimate of your chances of being dealt the following hands with only 5 cards.

Royal Flush – 1 in 650,000
Straight Flush – 1 in 72,200
4 of a Kind – 1 in 4,200
Full House – 1 in 700
Flush – 1 in 510
Straight – 1 in 250
3 of a Kind – 1 in 48
Two Pair – 1 in 21
Pair – 1 in 2.4

Online Poker Hand Probabilities – 7 Card Hand
Now, we’ll list the hand probabilities in cases where each player is dealt a total of 7 cards in which to develop a 5 card poker hand. Some online poker games like this include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud and Razz.

Royal Flush – .0002%
Straight Flush – .0012%
4 of a Kind – .024%
Full House – .114%
Flush – .197%
Straight – .353%
3 of a Kind – .2.11%
Two Pair –4.754%
Pair – 42%

If there’s anything to be learned from this online poker hand ranking and probability guide, it is this – Great hands are a rare commodity. When you are dealt one, milk it for all it’s worth!