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Poker Stats

Statistics and mathematics, both, play several important roles in poker. They give us the probability of getting each hand, tell us which starting cards have the best chances of winning, and they give us guidelines to follow in betting and calling our opponents' bets. This table shows how.

Hand Name (Best to Worst) Example Explanation Probability of Getting
Royal Flush A,K,Q,J,10 This is the best hand in poker. The cards are Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten and are all the same suit. 1 in 649,739 hands dealt
Straight Flush 8,7,6,5,4 The cards are sequential and all the same suit. If two players have this, the highest card of the sequence is used in determining which hand is better. For example, a straight flush from the 6 to the 10 would beat one from the 4 to the 8. 1 in 72,192 hands dealt
4-of-a-Kind Q,Q,Q,Q,4 Four of the cards are the same. Four cards of a higher value (4 aces) beat 4 cards of a lesser value (4 eights). If both players have the same 4 of a kind, the highest fifth card serves as the tie breaker. 1 in 4,164 hands dealt
Full House A,A,A,5,4 This is three of a kind combined with a pair. The strength of the three of a kind determines the winning hand in the event of two full houses. For example, kings full of fives would beat queens full of fives. If both players have the same three of a kind, the pair is used as the tie breaker. 1 in 693 hands dealt
Flush Q,8,6,5,2 All cards are the same suit. If there are two flushes, the one with the highest card wins. No particular suit (clubs,> spades,etc.) beats another. They are all equal. 1 in 508 hands dealt
Straight 10,9,8,7,6 The cards are in sequential order. If there are two, the one that goes to the highest card wins. 1 in 254 hands dealt
3-of-a-Kind Q,Q,Q,7,4 Three cards match or have the same value. If there are two, the three with the higher value win (3 tens beat 3 twos). When two players have the same three of a kind, the next highest card of the remaining two serves as a tie breaker. 1 in 46 hands dealt
Two Pair A,A,Q,Q,4 Two sets of two cards that have the same value. The highest pair of the two determines the winner in the event that two players have two pair. If both have the same two pair, the highest fifth card determines the winner. 1 in 20 hands dealt
One Pair 5,5,10,8,4 Two cards have the same value. The higher pair wins. 1 in 4 hands dealt