An ace-high straight flush, commonly known as a royal flush, is the best possible hand in many variants of poker.
In 8️⃣ poker, players form sets of five playing cards, called hands, according to the rules of the game.[1] Each hand has 8️⃣ a rank, which is compared against the ranks of other hands participating in the showdown to decide who wins the 8️⃣ pot.[2] In high games, like Texas hold 'em and seven-card stud, the highest-ranking hands win. In low games, like razz, 8️⃣ the lowest-ranking hands win. In high-low split games, both the highest-ranking and lowest-ranking hands win, though different rules are used 8️⃣ to rank the high and low hands.[3][4]
Each hand belongs to a category determined by the patterns formed by its cards. 8️⃣ A hand in a higher-ranking category always ranks higher than a hand in a lower-ranking category. A hand is ranked 8️⃣ within its category using the ranks of its cards. Individual cards are ranked, from highest to lowest: A, K, Q, 8️⃣ J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2.[5] However, aces have the highest rank under ace-to-five high 8️⃣ or six-to-ace low rules, or under high rules as part of a five-high straight or straight flush.[6][7] Suits are not 8️⃣ ranked, so hands that differ by suit alone are of equal rank.[8]
There are nine categories of hand when using a 8️⃣ standard 52-card deck, except under ace-to-five low rules where straights, flushes and straight flushes are not recognized. An additional category, 8️⃣ five of a kind, exists when using one or more wild cards. The fewer hands a category contains, the higher 8️⃣ its rank.[9] There are 52 ! ( 52 − 5 ) ! = 311,875,200 {\displaystyle {\begin{matrix}{\frac {52!}{(52-5)!}}=311{,}875{,}200\end{matrix}}} ways to deal 8️⃣ five cards from the deck but only 52 ! ( 52 − 5 ) ! 5 ! = 2,598,960 {\displaystyle 8️⃣ {\begin{matrix}{\frac {52!}{(52-5)!5!}}=2{,}598{,}960\end{matrix}}} distinct hands, because the order in which cards are dealt or arranged in a hand does not matter.[10] 8️⃣ Moreover, since hands differing only by suit are of equal rank, there are only 7,462 distinct hand ranks.[11]
Hand-ranking categories [ 8️⃣ edit ]
* Only possible when using one or more wild cards ** Category does not exist under ace-to-five low rules
Five 8️⃣ of a kind [ edit ]
Five of a kind, aces
Five of a kind is a hand that contains five cards 8️⃣ of one rank, such as 3♥ 3♦ 3♣ 3♠ 3 ("five of a kind, threes"). It ranks above a straight 8️⃣ flush but is only possible when using one or more wild cards, as there are only four cards of each 8️⃣ rank in the deck.[6] Five of a kind, aces, A♥ A♦ A♣ A♠ Jkr, becomes possible when a joker is 8️⃣ added to the deck as a bug, a form of wild card that may act as a fifth ace.[5] Other 8️⃣ wild card rules allow jokers or other designated cards to represent any card in the deck, making it possible to 8️⃣ form five of a kind of any rank.[12]
Each five of a kind is ranked by the rank of its quintuplet. 8️⃣ For example, Q♠ Q♥ Q♣ Q♦ Q ranks higher than 6♣ 6♠ 6♦ 6♥ 6.[6][13]
Straight flush [ edit ]
A jack-high 8️⃣ straight flush
A straight flush is a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, all of the same suit, such 8️⃣ as Q♥ J♥ 10♥ 9♥ 8♥ (a "queen-high straight flush").[4] It ranks below five of a kind and above four 8️⃣ of a kind.[5] Under high rules, an ace can rank either high (as in A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥, an 8️⃣ ace-high straight flush) or low (as in 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ A♦, a five-high straight flush), but cannot simultaneously rank 8️⃣ both high and low (so Q♣ K♣ A♣ 2♣ 3♣ is an ace-high flush, but not a straight).[6][13] Under deuce-to-seven 8️⃣ low rules, an ace always ranks high (so 5♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠ A♠ is an ace-high flush). Under ace-to-six low 8️⃣ rules, an ace always ranks low (so A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥ is a king-high flush).[14] Under ace-to-five low rules, 8️⃣ straight flushes are not possible (so 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣ is a nine-high hand).[7]
Each straight flush is ranked by 8️⃣ the rank of its highest-ranking card. For example, 10♣ 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ ranks higher than 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ 8️⃣ 4♥, which ranks higher than 6♠ 5♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠. Straight flush hands that differ by suit alone, such as 8️⃣ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ and 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ 4♠ 3♠, are of equal rank.[6][13]
An ace-high straight flush, such as 8️⃣ A♦ K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦, is called a royal flush or royal straight flush and is the best possible hand 8️⃣ in ace-high games when wild cards are not used.[5][15][16] A five-high straight flush, such as 5♥ 4♥ 3♥ 2♥ A♥, 8️⃣ is called a steel wheel and is both the best low hand and usually the best high hand of the 8️⃣ showdown in ace-to-five high-low split games.[4]
Four of a kind [ edit ]
Four of a kind, fives
Four of a kind, also 8️⃣ known as quads, is a hand that contains four cards of one rank and one card of another rank (the 8️⃣ kicker), such as 9♣ 9♠ 9♦ 9♥ J♥ ("four of a kind, nines"). It ranks below a straight flush and 8️⃣ above a full house.[5]
Each four of a kind is ranked first by the rank of its quadruplet, and then by 8️⃣ the rank of its kicker. For example, K♠ K♥ K♣ K♦ 3♥ ranks higher than 7♥ 7♦ 7♠ 7♣ Q♥, 8️⃣ which ranks higher than 7♥ 7♦ 7♠ 7♣ 10♠. Four of a kind hands that differ by suit alone, such 8️⃣ as 4♣ 4♠ 4♦ 4♥ 9♣ and 4♣ 4♠ 4♦ 4♥ 9♦, are of equal rank.[6][13]
Full house [ edit ]
A 8️⃣ full house, sixes over kings
A full house, also known as a full boat or a tight or a boat (and 8️⃣ originally called a full hand), is a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another 8️⃣ rank, such as 3♣ 3♠ 3♦ 6♣ 6♥ (a "full house, threes over sixes" or "threes full of sixes" or 8️⃣ "threes full").[17][18] It ranks below four of a kind and above a flush.[5]
Each full house is ranked first by the 8️⃣ rank of its triplet, and then by the rank of its pair. For example, 8♠ 8♦ 8♥ 7♦ 7♣ ranks 8️⃣ higher than 4♦ 4♠ 4♣ 9♦ 9♣, which ranks higher than 4♦ 4♠ 4♣ 5♣ 5♦. Full house hands that 8️⃣ differ by suit alone, such as K♣ K♠ K♦ J♣ J♠ and K♣ K♥ K♦ J♣ J♥, are of equal 8️⃣ rank.[6][13]
Flush [ edit ]
A jack-high flush
A flush is a hand that contains five cards all of the same suit, not 8️⃣ all of sequential rank, such as K♣ 10♣ 7♣ 6♣ 4♣ (a "king-high flush" or a "king-ten-high flush").[19] It ranks 8️⃣ below a full house and above a straight.[5] Under ace-to-five low rules, flushes are not possible (so J♥ 8♥ 4♥ 8️⃣ 3♥ 2♥ is a jack-high hand).[7]
Each flush is ranked first by the rank of its highest-ranking card, then by the 8️⃣ rank of its second highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its third highest-ranking card, then by the rank of 8️⃣ its fourth highest-ranking card, and finally by the rank of its lowest-ranking card. For example, K♦ J♦ 9♦ 6♦ 4♦ 8️⃣ ranks higher than Q♣ J♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣, which ranks higher than J♥ 10♥ 9♥ 4♥ 2♥, which ranks higher 8️⃣ than J♠ 10♠ 8♠ 6♠ 3♠, which ranks higher than J♥ 10♥ 8♥ 4♥ 3♥, which ranks higher than J♣ 8️⃣ 10♣ 8♣ 4♣ 2♣. Flush hands that differ by suit alone, such as 10♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ and 10♠ 8️⃣ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠, are of equal rank.[6][13]
Straight [ edit ]
A ten-high straight
A straight is a hand that contains five 8️⃣ cards of sequential rank, not all of the same suit, such as 7♣ 6♠ 5♠ 4♥ 3♥ (a "seven-high straight"). 8️⃣ It ranks below a flush and above three of a kind.[5] Under high rules, an ace can rank either high 8️⃣ (as in A♦ K♣ Q♣ J♦ 10♠, an ace-high straight) or low (as in 5♣ 4♦ 3♥ 2♥ A♠, a 8️⃣ five-high straight), but cannot simultaneously rank both high and low (so Q♠ K♠ A♣ 2♥ 3♦ is an ace-high hand).[6][13] 8️⃣ Under deuce-to-seven low rules, an ace always ranks high (so 5♥ 4♠ 3♥ 2♣ A♦ is an ace-high hand). Under 8️⃣ ace-to-six low rules, an ace always ranks low (so A♣ K♠ Q♠ J♦ 10♠ is a king-high hand).[14] Under ace-to-five 8️⃣ low rules, straights are not possible (so 10♥ 9♠ 8♣ 7♣ 6♦ is a ten-high hand).[7]
Each straight is ranked by 8️⃣ the rank of its highest-ranking card. For example, J♥ 10♥ 9♣ 8♠ 7♥ ranks higher than 10♠ 9♠ 8♣ 7♥ 8️⃣ 6♠, which ranks higher than 6♣ 5♠ 4♥ 3♠ 2♦. Straight hands that differ by suit alone, such as 9♣ 8️⃣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♦ 5♦ and 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 5♥, are of equal rank.[6][13]
An ace-high straight, such as A♣ K♣ 8️⃣ Q♦ J♠ 10♠, is called a Broadway straight,[20] while a five-high straight, such as 5♠ 4♦ 3♦ 2♠ A♥, is 8️⃣ called a baby straight,[21] bicycle or wheel and is the best possible hand in ace-to-five low games (where it is 8️⃣ a high card hand, not a straight).[22][23]
Three of a kind [ edit ]
Three of a kind, queens
Three of a kind, 8️⃣ also known as trips or a set, is a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards 8️⃣ of two other ranks (the kickers), such as 2♦ 2♠ 2♣ K♠ 6♥ ("three of a kind, twos" or "trip 8️⃣ twos" or a "set of twos"). It ranks below a straight and above two pair.[5]
Each three of a kind is 8️⃣ ranked first by the rank of its triplet, then by the rank of its highest-ranking kicker, and finally by the 8️⃣ rank of its lowest-ranking kicker. For example, 6♥ 6♦ 6♠ Q♣ 4♠ ranks higher than 3♦ 3♠ 3♣ K♠ 2♠, 8️⃣ which ranks higher than 3♦ 3♠ 3♣ J♣ 7♥, which ranks higher than 3♦ 3♠ 3♣ J♠ 5♦. Three of 8️⃣ a kind hands that differ by suit alone, such as 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ 10♦ 8♥ and 9♣ 9♠ 9♥ 10♦ 8️⃣ 8♦, are of equal rank.[6][13]
In community card games, such as Texas hold 'em, three of a kind is called a 8️⃣ set only when it comprises a pocket pair and a third card on the board.[24]
Two pair [ edit ]
Two pair, 8️⃣ jacks and threes
Two pair is a hand that contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and 8️⃣ one card of a third rank (the kicker), such as J♥ J♣ 4♣ 4♠ 9♥ ("two pair, jacks and fours" 8️⃣ or "two pair, jacks over fours" or "jacks up").[17][25] It ranks below three of a kind and above one pair.[5]
Each 8️⃣ two pair is ranked first by the rank of its higher-ranking pair, then by the rank of its lower-ranking pair, 8️⃣ and finally by the rank of its kicker. For example, 10♦ 10♠ 2♠ 2♣ K♣ ranks higher than 5♣ 5♠ 8️⃣ 4♦ 4♥ 10♥, which ranks higher than 5♣ 5♠ 3♣ 3♦ Q♠, which ranks higher than 5♣ 5♠ 3♣ 3♦ 8️⃣ J♠. Two pair hands that differ by suit alone, such as K♦ K♠ 7♦ 7♥ 8♥ and K♣ K♠ 7♣ 8️⃣ 7♥ 8♣, are of equal rank.[6][13]
One pair [ edit ]
One pair, tens
One pair, or simply a pair, is a hand 8️⃣ that contains two cards of one rank and three cards of three other ranks (the kickers), such as 4♥ 4♠ 8️⃣ K♠ 10♦ 5♠ ("one pair, fours" or a "pair of fours"). It ranks below two pair and above high card.[5]
Each 8️⃣ one pair is ranked first by the rank of its pair, then by the rank of its highest-ranking kicker, then 8️⃣ by the rank of its second highest-ranking kicker, and finally by the rank of its lowest-ranking kicker. For example, 9♣ 8️⃣ 9♦ Q♠ J♥ 5♥ ranks higher than 6♦ 6♥ K♠ 7♥ 4♣, which ranks higher than 6♦ 6♥ Q♥ J♠ 8️⃣ 2♣, which ranks higher than 6♦ 6♥ Q♠ 8♣ 7♦, which ranks higher than 6♦ 6♥ Q♦ 8♥ 3♠. One-pair 8️⃣ hands that differ by suit alone, such as 8♠ 8♦ 10♥ 6♣ 5♠ and 8♥ 8♣ 10♣ 6♠ 5♣, are 8️⃣ of equal rank.[6][13]
High card [ edit ]
High card, king
High card, also known as no pair or simply nothing, is a 8️⃣ hand that does not fall into any other category, such as K♥ J♥ 8♣ 7♦ 4♠ ("high card, king" or 8️⃣ "king-jack-high" or "king-high").[17][26] Note that under ace-to-five low rules, straights, flushes and straight flushes are not possible, so such hands 8️⃣ are instead high card hands.[7] It ranks below one pair.[5]
Each high card hand is ranked first by the rank of 8️⃣ its highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its second highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its third highest-ranking 8️⃣ card, then by the rank of its fourth highest-ranking card, and finally by the rank of its lowest-ranking card. For 8️⃣ example, K♠ 6♣ 5♥ 3♦ 2♣ ranks higher than Q♠ J♦ 6♣ 5♥ 3♣, which ranks higher than Q♠ 10♦ 8️⃣ 8♣ 7♦ 4♠, which ranks higher than Q♥ 10♥ 7♣ 6♥ 4♠, which ranks higher than Q♣ 10♣ 7♦ 5♣ 8️⃣ 4♦, which ranks higher than Q♥ 10♦ 7♠ 5♠ 2♥. High card hands that differ by suit alone, such as 8️⃣ 10♣ 8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 4♦ and 10♦ 8♦ 7♠ 6♣ 4♣, are of equal rank.[6][13]
Under deuce-to-seven low rules, a seven-five-high 8️⃣ hand, such as 7♠ 5♣ 4♦ 3♦ 2♣, is the best possible hand.[27] Under ace-to-six low rules, where aces have 8️⃣ the lowest rank, a six-four-high hand, such as 6♣ 4♠ 3♥ 2♥ A♦, is the best possible hand.[28] Under ace-to-five 8️⃣ low rules, where aces have the lowest rank and straights, flushes and straight flushes are not possible, a five-high hand, 8️⃣ such as 5♣ 4♠ 3♥ 2♥ A♦ or 5♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠ A♠, commonly known as a bicycle or wheel, 8️⃣ is the best possible hand.[7][22]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
