Poker Beginners Guide: Hand Rankings (1)

The first step to mastering poker is to learn the hand rankings. These rankings remain the same for all forms of poker.

We’ll start with the worst hand:

A	B

Here you have nothing. In the event of two people both having nothing, the hand with the highest card will win.

Therefore hand A (Ace high) beats hand B (King high).

If two hands have the same high card, the next highest card is the deciding factor.

Continuing with the next best hand:

A	B

Here you have a pair. In the event of two people both having a pair, the hand with the highest pair will win.

Therefore hand B (pair of kings) beats hand A (pair of Queens).

If two hands have the same pair then it is the next highest card which is the deciding factor. This deciding card is called a kicker.