Combinations in poker
Regardless of whether you play poker for fun or to win, you should be familiar with card combinations. These are used to determine the winner by means of a showdown comparison.
Notion
A hand is a set of 5 cards that make up one of a hand’s combinations. This process takes into account the cards in the player’s hand, but also those on the table.
Combinations can be made in many different ways. The most common are:
- two in the player’s hand and three on the table;
- one by the player and four on the table;
- one by the player and five on the table.
Concepts such as low combinations, poker hands and starting hands are all present. The former defines the combination that has the smallest face value of those in the hand. The second refers to a hand that has been completely wagered. The Starting Hands are the cards that are dealt to the player at the start of the game and on the basis of which the player decides whether or not to continue playing.
Combinations in the game
A Royal Flush is considered to be the top Hand. This includes an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of a single suit. There are those who refer to this as the oldest straight-flush combination. But gambling pros consider it separate and rare.
Below that is a straight flush, which includes any five cards of a single suit. The exception to this is a straight starting with a ten and ending with an ace. If two players in a game manage to make a straight in the current game, the higher one wins.
Third from the top is a combination called a square. It comprises four cards of a single suit. The seniority rule applies here as well.
This is followed by a full house. It makes sense that in this case it’s three cards of a single suit and whoever has the highest three wins. If the high is impossible to determine, the pot is split equally.
Fifth place is a flush. It involves cards of a single suit, but without observing order. In other words, the cards do not have to follow a sequence. If several players have a flush, the highest card wins.
This is followed by a straight with an ace. There are five cards in a row, with Ace as the high card. The suit does not play a role. But it can be either the highest or the lowest card. It all depends on the set.
There’s also just straight. This simply includes five cards in a row, but of any seniority. The winner is also based on what the highest card is. An ace should not be forgotten.
A set, or triplet, follows and is formed by three cards of the same value. In other words, it should be three of the same card. But here too there are differences:
- a set – three cards from a pocket pair and one from the table;
- a triplet – three cards from a pair from the table and one from the hand.
Catching up with the set/trips is the two-pair combination. This includes two pairs of a single rank or two cards of a different rank, such as two tens and two jacks. The winner is determined by ascertaining whose pair is higher.
A pair consisting of two cards of a single denomination is not far behind. The comparison is made by seniority. If the face value is the same, then determining what other cards are in everyone’s hands and on the table is involved.
The highest card completes the list. The combination consists of five cards that do not belong to any of the cards listed above. The winner is determined by comparing the cards by seniority.
