Poker Hand Ranks (best to worst)
- Royal Flush - The best possible hand.
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.
- Straight Flush - A straight flush is
a straight (5 cards in order, such as 7-8-9-10-J) that
are all of the same suit. As in a regular straight, you
can have an ace either high (A-K-Q-J-T) or low (A-2-3-4-5).
You can not use the Ace in a wraparound and example would
be K-A-2-3-4, which is not a straight.
- Four of a Kind - Four cards of the
same rank like four Aces or Four Kings. If there are two
or more hands that qualify, the hand with the higher-rank
four of a kind wins.
- Full House - A full house is a three
of a kind and a pair, such as K-K-K-2-2. When there are
two full houses the tie is broken by the three of a kind.
An example would be J-J-J-5-5 would beat 9-9-9-A-A. If
for some reason the three of a kind cannot determine the
victor then you go to the pair to decide (this would only
happen in a game with wild cards).
- Flush - A flush is a hand where all
of the cards are the same suit, such as A-J-9-7-5, all
of Diamonds. When flushes ties, follow the rules for High
Card.
- Straight - Five cards in rank order,
but not of the same suit (it can be any combination of
the four suits). An example of a straight is 2-3-4-5-6.
The Ace can either be high or low card, either A-2-3-4-5
or 10-J-Q-K-A. Wraparounds are not allowed (an example
being K-A-2-3-4). When two straights tie, the highest
straight wins, K-Q-J-10-9 would beat 5-4-3-2-A. If two
straights have the same value, AKQJT vs AKQJT, the pot
is split.
- Three of a Kind - Three cards of any
rank with the remaining cards not being a pair (that would
be a full house if it were). Once again the highest ranking
three of a kind would win. K-K-K-2-4 would beat Q-Q-Q-2-3.
If both are the same rank (only in a wild card game),
then the High Card rule come into effect with the remaining
two.
- Two Pair - Two distinct pairs of card
and a 5th card. The highest ranking pair wins ties. If
both hands have the same high pair, the second pair wins.
If both hands have the same pairs, the high card wins.
- Pair - One pair with three distinct
cards. Highest ranking pair wins. High card breaks ties.
- High Card - When a hand has none of
the above qualifications of any of the ones listed above,
nobody has even a pair or better, then it comes down to
who is holding the highest ranking card. If there is a
tie for the high card then the next high card determines
the pot, if that card is a tie than it continues down
till the third, fourth, and fifth card. The High card
is also used to break ties when the high hands both have
the same type of hand (pair, flush, straight, etc).
Royal Flush |
A
K
Q
J
10 |
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 all of the
same suit. |
Straight Flush |
K
Q
J
10
9 |
Five cards in numerical sequence and of the same suit
(e.g. 9,10,J,Q,K all Diamonds) |
Four of a Kind |
J J
J
J
6 |
Four cards of the same rank regardless of suit
(e.g. four Jacks) |
Full House |
Q
Q
Q A
A |
Three of a kind and a pair (e.g. three Queens
and two Aces) |
Flush |
8
5
9
6
10 |
Five cards of the same suit (e.g. 5 Hearts) |
Straight |
10
9
8
7 6 |
Five cards in sequence. Ace considered to be high
or low (e.g. 6,7,8,9,10) |
Three of a Kind |
7
7
7 8
6 |
Three cards of the same rank (e.g. three 7's) |
Two Pair |
10
10
8 8
5 |
Two pairs (e.g. two 10's and two 8's) |
Pair |
J
J
9 10
5 |
Two cards of the same rank (e.g. two Jacks) |
High Card |
K
4 J
3
9 |
Highest single card (e.g. King) |
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