Every decision starts with knowing how strong your hand is. Here are the poker combinations, ordered from weakest (top) to strongest (bottom). One lower on the list always beats one higher up.
| Hand | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| High card | You make nothing; your highest card counts | A-K-9-5-2 |
| Pair | Two cards of the same value | 8-8 |
| Two pair | Two different pairs | K-K-7-7 |
| Three of a kind | Three cards of the same value | Q-Q-Q |
| Straight | Five values in a row (mixed suits) | 5-6-7-8-9 |
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit | Five hearts |
| Full house | Three of a kind + a pair | J-J-J-4-4 |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of the same value | A-A-A-A |
| Straight flush | A straight, all of the same suit | 8-9-10-J-Q of spades |
✓ Consejo: Mental shortcut, from lowest to highest: pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind. Memorize that order and you'll almost always know who wins.
⚠️ Error común: Mixing up straight and flush is the most common mistake when starting out. Straight = numbers in a row. Flush = same suit. A flush beats a straight.
💡 Clave: From weak to strong: high card, pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush. Knowing this is knowing if you're ahead.