Folding’s fine—unless it’s the hand that could’ve won you everything. Master the suits, and watch your poker game go from zero to hero.

Before you throw down your first hand, here's the 411: you gotta know your cards. Poker hand rankings are your secret weapon for boss-level wins. Quick heads-up: if you can’t tell your Hearts from your Clubs, you’ll be out the door faster than a bad bluff. Get schooled, or get schmoozed—your choice.

Take the time to learn the basics—bluffing, folding, hand rankings, and poker suits. It might take a bit of effort, but mastering these before you play will give your game a major boost. And trust us, poker suits can change everything. A hand of all the same suit? That’s your ticket to one of the best hands in the game. The only hand that can’t lose—unless you fold because you missed the memo. So, read on, and don’t embarrass yourself by folding a winner!

POKER SUITS: NO HIERARCHY, JUST STRATEGY

Let’s start with the basics: a standard deck of 52 cards has four suits in total—hearts and diamonds (both red), clubs and spades (both black). Each suit has 13 cards in total: picture cards A (Ace), K (King), Q (Queen), and J (Jack), then 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Simple, right? Unlike some card games (looking at you, Bridge), poker doesn’t rank suits. A King of hearts holds the same weight as a King of spades.

The one curveball? Aces. They’re the only cards with two values. They’re versatile, moonlighting as the highest card in the deck or slipping down to play the low card (aka the deuce) in a straight (think A-2-3-4-5). Handy, huh?

Still with us? Good, because here's the fun part. Now you know what poker suits are, and the ranking of suits in poker, we’re going to show you how to use ‘em.

SUITS THAT MATTER: FLUSH, STRAIGHT FLUSH, ROYAL FLUSH

Here’s the kicker: suits only come into play for three hands—flush, straight flush, and royal flush. Nail these, and you’re golden.

A FLUSH IS THE FIFTH BEST HAND

A flush is the fifth best poker hand you can make—five cards of the same suit, regardless of value. It’s well worth keeping an eye out for. Picture this: 5, 8, 10, 3, and 4—all hearts. Boom, you’ve got a flush. Odds? Around 509 to 1, so it’s not exactly a daily occurrence, but it’s common enough to keep you intrigued.

Pro tip: don’t mistake a mismatched hand for a flush. A 2, 6, 8, 9, and 10 with mixed suits isn’t a flush; it’s a hot mess. Fold it and save your chips.

Out of the three hands that use suits, a flush is the more common of the trio. On average, you'll see a flush every 500 hands or so; the odds are 509 to 1. You’ll definitely see a flush at some point if you decide to play poker regularly. Unlike the other two hands, which are very rare in comparison.

SECOND BEST HAND IN POKER

A straight flush? Now we're talking. This belter is the second-best hand in the game. It's a combination of a straight (five cards in sequential order) and a flush (all of the same suit). Think 2, 3, 4, 5, 6—all spades. The odds? Slim. It’s poker’s equivalent of spotting Bigfoot—rare, but unforgettable when it happens.

Remember: higher straights trump lower ones. So if your straight flush is 5-6-7-8-9 and someone else has 6-7-8-9-10, you’re out. But hey, at least you got to see a straight flush.

Veteran players might see a straight flush here and there, but if luck deals you one, keep your poker face on. It’s tough to lose with a straight flush—unless someone else hits a higher one. In that case, congrats, you’ve just been hit with a bad beat. It’s brutal, but here’s the silver lining: you’ve just witnessed the rarest, unbeatable hand in the game

ROYAL FLUSH: THE UNICORN OF POKER

This is it—the Beyoncé of poker hands. A royal flush combines the highest straight (10-J-Q-K-A) with a flush. It's the rarest hand in poker, with odds of 1 in 649 739. It’s unbeatable unless, of course, you fold because you didn’t realize what you had. (Please don’t be that player.)

Fun fact: plenty of poker pros never get a royal flush in their lifetime. If you’re lucky enough to snag one, savor the moment—and maybe consider buying a lottery ticket.

So there you have it—the basics of poker suits. You should be all caught up on their importance for your next jaunt at the poker tables. Have fun and watch out for those suits—they can make some of the best hands in the game.

WHY SUITS MATTER: YOUR SHORTCUT TO POKER GLORY

If you’re just starting, the idea of suits might feel trivial, but they’re the backbone of some game-changing hands. Memorize them, spot the patterns, and let the flushes, straight flushes, and royal flushes roll in.

Poker’s not just about luck; it’s about knowing the rules and playing them like a pro. So, the next time you’re dealt a hand, take a second look. You might just be sitting on a winner.

FINAL TIP: DON’T BE THAT PLAYER

Poker is about reading the room, the cards, and yourself. Fold when you must, but don’t let ignorance of the basics—like suits—be your downfall. The table’s a battlefield; knowing your suits is just one more weapon in your arsenal.

Now go forth, shuffle up, and deal like the champion you’re destined to be.

POKER SUITS FAQS

1. Are there any rankings for suits in poker?
Nope! Unlike some other card games (like Bridge), poker doesn’t rank suits. A King of Hearts is just as good as a King of Spades.

2. What’s the deal with Aces?
Aces are versatile. They can be the highest card in the deck, or they can act as a low card in a straight (like A-2-3-4-5). They're the wildcards of the deck.

3. How do suits affect poker hands?
Suits come into play for flushes, straight flushes, and royal flushes. For all other hands (like pairs or two pairs), suits don’t matter.

4. What’s the difference between a flush and a straight flush?
A flush is five cards of the same suit, in any order. A straight flush is five cards of the same suit in a sequential order. The straight flush is the second-highest hand in poker—just below the royal flush.

5. What are the odds of getting a flush?
The odds of getting a flush are about 509 to 1. It's the most common of the hands that rely on suits, but still not something that happens every day.

6. What’s a royal flush, and how rare is it?
A royal flush is the highest hand in poker—A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit. It’s incredibly rare, with odds of 1 in 649,739. Most poker pros go their entire careers without seeing one, so if you get one, enjoy it!

7. Why do suits matter in poker?
While suits don’t affect most hands, they are crucial for creating flushes, straight flushes, and royal flushes—the hands that can change your game. Master them, and your poker strategy will level up.

8. Can I win a hand without a flush or straight flush?
Absolutely! There are plenty of winning hands that don't require suits to line up—pairs, two pairs, three of a kind, etc. But a flush or straight flush can definitely give you a leg up in the right situations.