Rank of Poker Hands

The most important aspect of the game is understanding the rank of poker hands. There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the individual cards, from high to low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no ranking between the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal. A poker hand consists of five cards. The categories of hand, from highest to lowest, are listed below. Any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category (so for example any three of a kind beats any two pairs). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better, as described in more detail below. In games where a player has more than five cards and selects five to form a poker hand, the remaining cards do not play any part in the ranking. Poker ranks are always based on five cards only.

The order of winning hands in poker:

1. Five of a Kind (example: Ace – Ace – Ace – Ace – Ace) – Possible only in games using wild cards
2. Straight Flush (example: Jack - 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 ) – The best possible hand without using wild cards is an Ace-high straight flush, commonly called a “Royal Flush” (Ace – King – Queen – Jack – 10 of the same suit)
3. Four of a Kind (example: 7 – 7 – 7 – 7 – King)
4. Full House (example: Queen – Queen – Queen – 10 – 10) – Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank
5. Flush (example: King - Jack - 7 - 3 - 2 ) – Five cards of the same suit
6. Straight (example: Queen – Jack – 10 – 9 – 8) – Five cards in ascending order
7. Three of a Kind (example: 4 – 4 – 4 – Jack – 7)
8. Two Pair (example: 10 – 10 – 6 – 6 – King)
9. One Pair (example: King – King – Ace – 9 – 2)
10. High Card (example: Ace – Jack – 10 – 9 – 5)
    

Hi-Lo Ranks
In a Hi-Lo game, the rank of hands is reversed, with one caveat: straights and flushes are ignored. (They count only for their high card value. Thus, a 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 counts as a 7-low and beats a pair of 6s for low.) The best low hand is the hand with the lowest high card. (The best low hand in any game is an Ace – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5, also known as a “wheel”) If two hands have the same high card, the lowest second high card wins, and so on (Thus, a 7 – 5 – 4 – 2 – Ace beats a 7 – 6 – 3 – 2 – Ace). Lowest high card is followed by the lowest pair, the lowest two pair, and so on. (Low hands are almost never worse than one pair)

Aces may be used high or low. 10 – Jack – Queen – King – Ace and Ace – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 are both valid straights, and the Ace may be used as the lowest card in Hi-Lo games.

Tie-Breakers
If two players each have a Pair, Three of a Kind, Four of a Kind, or Five of a Kind, the player with the higher set of cards wins. Five Aces beats Five Kings, etc. If both players have the same rank for their set, then the rank of the odd cards (“kickers”) determines the winner. If Player 1 has 5 – 5 – Ace – King – 6, he beats Player 2’s 5 – 5 – Ace – Jack – 3.

If two players each have a High Card, Straight, Flush or Straight Flush, the rank of the highest cards determines the winner. Suits are irrelevant.

If two players each have a Full House, the rank of the Three-of-a-Kind is the first tie-breaker, then the rank of the pair. 4 – 4 – 4 – 3 – 3 beats 2 – 2 – 2 – Ace – Ace, and King – King – King – 7 – 7 beats King – King – King – 3 – 3.