Royal Flush

The highest-ranking poker hand (when there are no wild cards—a term I will explain later—in the game) is the straight flush. Only one out of every 65,000 poker hands falls into this category A straight flush consists of five cards tiz the same suit and in sequence. For example,

*10 *9 *8 *7 *6 and •A +K •Q •J +10 are straight flushes, whereas

*10 *9 *8 *7 *6 (notallthesamesuit) and • A • K • Q • J • 9 (not In sequence) are not.

Among straight flushes, the one containing the highest-ranking card is superior. Thus, the second example hand above is higher ranking than the first. In the spade hand, the top card is a 10, whereas the diamond hand contains an ace. A straight flush headed by an ace (the highest-ranking poker hand of all) is usually dignified with the name royal flush. Only one in 650,000 poker hands is a royal flush. (So don’t expect one too often!)

Straight Flush

Five poker cards of the same suit in sequence - such as J-10-9-8-7. Between two straight flushes, the one containing the higher top card is higher. An ace can be counted as low, so 5-4-3-2-A is a straight flush, but its top poker card is the five, not the ace, so it is the lowest type of straight flush. The cards cannot "turn the corner": 4-3-2-A-K is not valid at all.

Four of a Kind

The next best hand, and also quite rare, is four of a kind. This is a hand with four cards of the same rank, such as m*A VA •A *A V2 (fouraces) or the one with the higher top card is the higher ranking. Thus, A-K-Q-J-1O is the highest-ranking straight, K-Q-J-1O-9 is next, and so on and so forth.

Full House

Full House consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank - for example three sevens and two tens (colloquially known as "sevens full" or more specifically "sevens on tens"). When comparing full houses, the rank of the three cards determines which is higher. For example 9-9-9-4-4 beats 8-8-8-A-A. If the threes of a kind were equal, the rank of the pairs would decide.

Flush

Five poker cards of the same suit. When you are comparing two flushes, the highest card determines which is higher. If the highest cards are equal then the second highest poker card is compared; if those are equal too, then the third highest poker card, and so on. For example K-J-9-3-2 beats K-J-7-6-5 because the nine beats the seven.

Straight

Five poker cards of mixed suits in sequence - for example Q-J-10-9-8. When comparing the two sequences, the one with the higher ranking top card is the better one. Ace can surely count high or low in a straight, but not both at once, so A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A are valid straights, but 2-A-K-Q-J is not. 5-4-3-2-A is the lowest kind of straight, the top card being the five.

Three of a kind

three of the five poker cards in the hand are of the same rank. The other two are unmatched. Again suits are irrelevant and the higher the rank of the three similar cards, the higher the hand. Thus, A-A-A-3-2 (three aces) is higher ranking than K-K-K-Q-J (three kings, queen and jack).

Two Pairs

Two pairs is next, right after three of a kind and the title describes the hand well; two sets of two cards of the same rank. Between hands with two pairs, the one with the higher pair is the higher ranking. (If the high pairs are of the same rank, the rank of the low pairs determines the rank of the hands.) If, through incredible coincidence, there are two hands in which both pairs are of identical ranks, the rank of the extra card determines which hand ranks higher. The following hands with two pairs are listed in order of rank:

4A VA 46 •6 47 (acesuporacesover sixes)

4 K V K V 5 • 5 V Q (kings up or kings over fives)

V 3 4 3 4 7 (kings over threes)

4 J 4 J V K (queens over jacks, king next)

•Q •Q VJ •J 47 (queensoverjacks, seven next)

Pair

If somehow you can’t seem to get two pairs, the next best thing you can do is get one pair. Between hands with one pair, the higher pair determines the higher hand. (If the pairs are the same, then the higher-ranking odd card determines the rank; if these cards are equal. the next higher odd card, etc.) The following hands are listed in order of rank:

V A • 7 V 6 * 4 (pair of aces)

V Q • 9 V 8 2 (pair of queens, nine next)

• Q • Q V 7 • 6 A 3 (pair of queens, seven next)

A 2 V 2 A A V K A Q (pair of deuces)

No pair- highest odd card

Last and are the hands with no pair (and nothing else of value such as a straight or flush). These hands are disgustIngly common (about half of all pokcr hands have no pair). Between hands with no pair, the one with the higher odd card ranks higher; in case of tics, the one with the second- higher odd card, and so forth. Thus, A-7-5-4-3 (ace high) is ranked above K-Q-J-9-5 (king high, queen next) which is higher than K-1O-8-6-4 (king high, ten next).

Poker Hands Rank Summary:

Straight flush All in suit, ranks in sequence

Four of a kind Four of the same poker rank

Full house Three of one rank, two of another

Flush All in the same suit

Straight Ranks of poker cards in sequence

Three of a kind Three cards of one rank

Two pairs Two cards of one rank, two of another

One pair Two cards of one rank, three unmatched

No pair Five unmatched poker cards