A Look at Hand Rankings For Poker's Two Most Popular Games



Q: What are the Hand Rankings in No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha?

A: Does a flush beat a straight? Does two pair beat three of a kind? Does a straight flush beat a full house?

If you are new to the game of poker, you have likely asked yourself one of these questions, or something similar.

It is important that you know and understand the hand rankings for No Limit Hold'em and/or Pot Limit Omaha (the rankings for both of these games are the same, btw) so that you don't make silly mistakes at the table.


The King is presenting the poker hand rankings for no limit holdem and pot limit omaha games.


Here is an easy-to-follow hand rankings chart for you, from strongest possible hand to weakest possible hand:

1. Royal Flush - this means that you have the 10, J, Q, K and A, all of the same suit. This is a very rare hand, as you can see from this article.

2. Straight Flush - this means that you have a straight, with the cards all of the same suit. For instance - let's say that you are dealt 6-7 of spades, and the board includes the 5 of spades, the 8 of spades and the 9 of spades. This would mean that you'd have a straight flush. This is the second strongest possible hand.

3. Quads (or Four of a Kind) - this means that you have four-of-a-kind. So, let's say that you are dealt pocket Queens and the board comes Q-Q-3 - you'd have Quads in this case, which is a very tough hand to beat.

4. Full House - this means that you can make a hand that includes 3 of a kind plus 2 of a kind. For instance, let's say that you are dealt pocket Aces and the board reads A-9-9-Q-J. This would mean that you'd have a full house, Aces over Nines.

5. Flush - this means that you can make five cards of the same suit with your hand. So, if you are dealt As-4s and the flop comes 3s-Qs-2s, you'd have an Ace high flush, which is a very strong hand.

6. Straight - this means that your hand makes five cards in sequence (by rank). For instance, if you are dealt 3-4 and the flop comes A-2-5, you would have a straight.

7. Three Of a Kind - this means that you have three of the same rank. So, if you are holding 2-2 and the flop comes 2-Q-J, you'd have flopped three of a kind, which is also known as "flopping a set".

8. Two Pair - this means that you can make two different pairs with your hand. So, if you are holding Q-J and the board reads Q-J-9-4-5, you'd have two pair, Queens and Jacks.

9. Pair - if you hold A-Q and the flop comes A-2-6, you'd have flopped a pair of Aces. If you are holding two Queens, you are said to have a "pocket pair".

10. High Card - If you can't even make a pair, the highest rank will play. So, if you hold A-K and the board reads 2-3-7-Q-J, you'd have Ace high.


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