Fri, 03/25/2011 – 20:14 – PokerPages Staff

Here is an overview of the ranking of poker hands for the beginner poker player.  A beginner poker player needs to know which poker hands outrank the other hands.  It is important because the rank of a poker hand is decided by the difficulty and frequency with which the hand shows up in play.  Therefore the highest-ranking poker hand is the least likely to be a common occurrence during a game.

The highest-ranking poker hand is a Royal Flush.  A-K-Q-J-10 are all of the same suit.  One notch down is a Straight Flush that is any sequence of five cards in the same suit other than a royal flush.  Next is four of the same card, one from each of the four suits; an example would be Jh-Jd-Jc-Js.  A full house is the next ranking hand.  A full house is made up of three of one denomination and two of another.  An example would be 7h-7d-7s-3d-3c.  A flush is next, and is made of having all the same suit, but no consecutive five cards run.  An Example would be Qh- 10h-8h-3h-2h. A straight follows here and that is a sequence of five cards, but not of the same suit.  An example would be 10s-9d-8h-7s-6c.  Three of a kind, two pair, a pair and high card complete the ranking of hands.

Beginner poker players can learn more about playing poker by visiting PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the internet for poker related learning.  Afterwards, why not test those skills by playing free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages section Poker Information and Poker Articles for more poker betting, tips, bets, and strategies.

Fri, 03/25/2011 – 20:37 – PokerPages Staff

#5 – Erik Seidel
Seidel is a native of New York who now lives in Las Vegas.  He began by playing backgammon tournaments, before moving into playing the stock market and finally poker.  Seidel has 21 first place finishes.  He has acquired eight WSOP bracelets.  His total career earnings are $11,530,256.

#4 – Phil Ivey
Ivey is an ambassador for new generation poker players.  He has 22 first place finishes to his credit.  He has also managed to earn eight WSOP bracelets.  His total career earnings are $13,745,806.

#3 – Doyle Brunson
Brunson lives in Las Vegas.  He is married and has three children.  He has 12 first place finishes.  Brunson has also earned 10 WSOP bracelets.  His total career earnings are $5,556,481.
 
#2 – Johnny Chan
Chan was born in Canton China.  In 1968, his family moved to US.  They owned restaurants in Houston Texas.  There Chan attended the University of Houston.  At the age of 21, he dropped out of college and moved to Las Vegas to become a poker player.  Chan has 13 first place finishes.  Chan has also acquired 10 WSOP bracelets.  He has amassed total winnings of $6,116,297.

#1 - Phil Hellmuth
Phil is from Palo Alto, California. He dropped out of the University of Wisconsin to make poker his career.  He has had a phenomenal run since 1988.  Hellmuth has had three back-to-back first place finishes.  He has also won three WSOP bracelets in the same year.  He has earned a total of 11 WSOP bracelets.  Hellmuth has had 20 first place finishes.  His total winnings are $9,236,617.

An honorable mention, it seems unfair that a poker legend like the late Johnny Moss is cut from the list even though he also holds eight WSOP bracelets.  He is not in the top five because his total first place finishes also total eight.