Lesson 1
Hand Rankings
Memorize the order of hands from High Card to Royal Flush.
Knowing what beats what is essential. Here is the order from best (top) to worst (bottom):
1. Royal Flush
A - K - Q - J - 10, all same suit. The unbeatable nuts.
2. Straight Flush
Any 5 consecutive cards of the same suit.
3. Quads (Four of a Kind)
Four cards of the exact same rank.
4. Full House
Three of a Kind + A Pair.
5. Flush
Any 5 cards of the same suit (order doesn't matter).
6. Straight
5 consecutive cards of MIXED suits.
7. Trips (Three of a Kind)
Three cards of the same rank.
8. Two Pair
Two separate pairs.
9. One Pair
Two cards of the same rank.
10. High Card
No matches. The highest card wins.
Key Takeaways
- • Flush beats Straight.
- • Trips beats Two Pair.
- • Suits never break ties (Spades don't beat Hearts).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- • Thinking 3 Pair is a hand (it's mostly just Two Pair).
- • Thinking a flush beats a full house.
Worked Example
The Board
Your Hand
You have a Full House (3-3-3-7-7). You beat a Flush or a Straight, but would lose to Four 7s.
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding to complete this lesson.
Question 1 of 5