Do you know your poker card rankings inside and out? Knowing the value of each card is key to becoming a skilled poker player. From the Royal Flush to the lowly high card, we’ll explore the many values and combinations of poker cards and provide tips to help you use this knowledge to your advantage.
Card Rankings
Let’s start with the basics: the traditional deck of 52 cards. The deck is divided into four suits – hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades – each with 13 cards. In most forms of poker, the suits are equal in value, meaning a flush of hearts is just as good as a flush of diamonds.
Here are the card rankings from highest to lowest:
- Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 of the same suit. This is the highest-ranking hand in poker and occurs only once in every 649,740 hands.
- Straight Flush: Five cards of the same suit in numerical sequence. An Ace can be used as both high and low (A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A). If two players have a straight flush, the one with the highest card wins.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, such as four Jacks. If two players each have four of a kind, the player with the highest-ranking four of a kind wins.
- Full House: Three cards of the same rank and two of another rank, such as three Kings and two sixes. If two players have a full house, the player with the highest-ranking three of a kind wins.
- Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. If two players have a flush, the player with the highest-ranking card wins.
- Straight: Five cards in numerical sequence, not of the same suit. An Ace can be used as both high and low (A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A). If two players have a straight, the player with the highest-ranking card wins.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank. If two players have three of a kind, the player with the highest-ranking three-of-a-kind wins.
- Two Pair: Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one card of a third rank. If two players each have two pair, the player with the highest-ranking pair wins.
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank. If two players have the same pair, the player with the highest-ranking kicker wins.
- High Card: If no players have any of the above, the player with the highest-ranking card wins. If two players have the same high card, the next highest card is used as a tie-breaker. This continues until one player’s card is higher.
Knowing the value of each card combination is important both when making bets and interpreting your opponents’ bets. For example, if you’re holding a pair of Aces, you might bet aggressively knowing that this is a strong hand in most cases. Likewise, if an opponent bets big, you might be able to deduce that they’re holding a strong hand – such as four of a kind – and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Poker Charts
Another useful tool for mastering poker is using poker charts. These pre-made charts are used to help guide your decision-making process. Some of the most popular types of poker charts include:
Starting Hand Charts
Starting hand charts provide suggested guidelines for what hands to play in which positions, depending on factors such as table size and the skill of your opponents. Here’s an example starting hand chart for Texas hold’em:
- Tier 1: AA, KK, QQ, AKs
- Tier 2: JJ, TT, AK, AQs, KQs, AJs
- Tier 3: 99, 88, AJ, KQ, ATs, QJs
- Tier 4: 77, 66, A9s, KJs, QTs, JTs, T9s
- Tier 5: 55, 44, 33, 22, K9s, Q9s, J9s, T8s
- Tier 6: A8s, A7s, A6s, A5s, A4s, A3s, A2s, KJ, KT, QJ, QT, JT, T9, 98s
- Tier 7: 9-9, 8-8, 7-7, 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, K9, Q9, J8s, T8, 97s, 87s, 76s, 65s
Keep in mind that these charts are just guidelines, and factors such as your opponents’ styles and how the game is currently playing out should also be considered when making decisions.
Position Charts
A position chart can help guide your decisions based on your seat at the table. For example, if you’re in an early position – meaning you’re one of the first to act – you might be more cautious and only play strong hands. If you’re in a later position, you have more information about your opponents’ hands and might take more risks. Here’s an example of a position chart for Texas hold’em:
- Early Position: AA-99, AKs, AK, AQs
- Middle Position: AA-99, AKs-ATs, AQ, KQs, QJs, JTs
- Late Position: AA-88, AKs-AJs, AQ, AJ, KQ, QJs, JTs, T9s, 98s
- Blind Position: AA-22, AKs-A2s, Ace-little suited, KQ-KT, QJ, JT, T9
Range Charts
A range chart helps you estimate what hands your opponents may be holding based on various factors such as their position and previous action. This type of chart takes more experience and skill to use effectively but can be incredibly powerful when done correctly. Here’s a simplified example of a range chart for Texas hold’em:
- Early Position: AA-99, AKs, AK, AQs
- Middle Position: AA-99, AKs-ATs, AQ, KQs, QJs, JTs
- Late Position: AA-88, AKs-AJs, AQ, AJ, KQ, QJs, JTs, T9s, 98s
- Blind Position: AA-22, AKs-A2s, Ace-little suited, KQ-KT, QJ, JT, T9
Using a range chart can help you make more informed decisions, such as when to call or fold, based on what your opponent may be holding.
