Texas Holdem follows the standard five-card poker hand rankings to determine the winner. The following list the best hands in order of strength, from the strongest hand to the weakest:

Royal Flush The best possible hand: Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit (ex: Ad, Kd, Qd, Jd, 10d)
• Straight Flush Any five-card sequence in the same suit (ex. 8c, 9c, 10c, Jc and Qc)


• Four of a Kind
  All four cards of the same value (ex. 8d, 8h, 8c, 8s)



• Full House
  Three of a kind combined with a pair (ex. 10c, 10d, 10h with 6s, 6d)



• Flush
  Any five non-sequential cards of the same suit (ex. 2c, 4c, 5c, 7c, and 10c)



• Straight
  Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (ex. 7c, 8c, 9d, 10s, and Jh)



• Three of a Kind
  Three cards of the same value (ex. Js, Jh, Jc)



• Two Pair
  Two separate pairs (ex. 3d, 3s, and Qh, Qd)



• Pair
  Two cards of the same value (ex. 7c, 7d)



• High Card
  If a hand contains none of the above combinations, it's valued by the highest card in it.




When Playing Texas Holdem, it's important to remember that five of your cards are being shared by other players. Having two pair of AA and 99 may not be that great of a hand if both Aces and one of the 9s are community cards. However, if you are holding pocket Aces, then the value of your hand went up drastically. When people first start playing Texas Holdem, they can be lulled into this trap. Stay out of it, and you will be a much happier player.
One person has commented on this article.
(1) Untitled
2007-05-02 21:14:44
the best hand, i had so far in poker was a straight flush to king. how know, perhaps a royal some day (;

greetings,
mak
Written by 1mak (Registered)
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