Poker Hands and Basic Rules
Straight Flush
A straight flush is a hand with five cards of the same suit that are in a row.
A royal flush (A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit) is the highest hand in
poker. A straight flush with higher ranking cards will win over a straight
flush with lower ranking cards. For example, a hand made up of 6, 7, 8, 9, and
10 will lose over a hand made up of 7, 8 , 9, 10, and J.
Four of a Kind
Four of a kind is all four cards of the same rank such as all four 10s. The
hand with the four higher cards will beat the hand with four lower cards.
Full House
A full house is made up of three of a kind and one pair. The hand which has
the higher three of a kind beats the hand which has the lower three of a
kind.
Flush
A flush is a hand with five cards, all of which are the same suit. A flush
with higher-ranking cards will win over a flush with lower-ranked cards. In
the event that both hands have the same highest-ranking card, the next
highest-ranking cards will determine the winner, and so on.
Straight
A straight is a hand with five cards in a row. The straight with the
higher-ranking card at the head of the row will beat the straight with the
lower ranked card at the head of the row. A, K, Q, J, and 10 is the highest
straight in poker while 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1(A) is the lowest straight.
Three of a Kind
Three of a kind is three cards of the same rank such as three Jacks. The
higher-ranking three of a kind beats the lower-ranking three of a kind. Three
2s are the lowest while three aces are the highest.
Two Pair
Two pair is two cards of the same rank plus two cards of another rank, such as
two 5s and two Kings. If more than one player has two pair, the player whose
hand has the highest-ranking pair will beat the player with another two pair
hand. If both players have the same highest-ranking pair, then the player with
the second highest-ranking pair hand wins. If both players have the same
second highest-ranking pair, then the player with the highest-ranking fifth
card wins.
One Pair
One pair is two cards of the same rank such as two 7s. The player with the
higher-ranking pair in his/her hand will beat the player with the
lower-ranking pair in his/her hand. If both players have the same pair, then
the player with the highest ranking single card (of the remaining three cards)
in his/her hand will win. If this card happens to be the same for both
players, then the next highest-ranked cards are looked at, and so on.
High Card
A high card hand is a hand that does not fall into any of the above mentioned
categories. Such a hand is usually called the "runt!" When comparing high card
hands, the hand with the highest-ranking singe card will win. If both hands
have the same highest-ranking card, then the next highest-ranking cards are
looked, and so on.
Other Poker Hand Rules - Rules For
Aces
The ace can either be the highest ranked card or the lowest ranked card in a
straight. In a hand made up of A, K, Q, J, and 10, the ace is considered to be
the highest ranked card. However, in a hand made up of 5, 4, 3, 2, and A, the
ace is considered to be the lowest ranked card since it is thought of as 1.
The ace is not allowed to be used in the middle of a straight. It can only be
used at either end. The ace is the highest ranked card in poker with the
exception of the 5, 4, 3, 2, A(1) straight in which it is the lowest ranked
card.
Poker Hand Resolution
In poker, the winner is the player with the best five card hand except in such
games as three card poker and Pai Gow Poker where two and three card hands are
used to determine the winner.
