Standard Poker Hand Ranking
There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the
individual cards, from high to 8️⃣ low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3,
2. There is no ranking between 8️⃣ the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the
king of spades are equal.
A poker hand consists 8️⃣ of five cards. The categories of hand,
from highest to lowest, are listed below. Any hand in a higher category 8️⃣ beats any hand
in a lower category (so for example any three of a kind beats any two pairs). Between
8️⃣ hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better, as
described in more detail 8️⃣ below.
1. Royal Flush
This is the highest poker hand. It
consists of ace, king, queen, jack, ten, all in the same 8️⃣ suit. As all suits are equal,
all royal flushes are equal.
2. Straight Flush
Five cards of the same suit in sequence
8️⃣ - such as J- 10- 9- 8- 7. Between two straight flushes, the one containing the higher
top card is 8️⃣ higher. An ace can be counted as low, so 5- 4- 3- 2- A is a straight flush,
but its 8️⃣ top card is the five, not the ace. The cards cannot "turn the corner": 4- 3- 2-
A- K is 8️⃣ not valid.
3. Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank - such as four queens.
The fifth card can 8️⃣ be anything. Between two fours of a kind, the one with the higher
set of four cards is higher - 8️⃣ so 3-3-3-3-A is beaten by 4-4-4-4-2. It can't happen in
standard poker, but if in some other game you need 8️⃣ to compare two fours of a kind where
the sets of four cards are of the same rank, then the 8️⃣ one with the higher fifth card is
better.
4. Full House
This consists of three cards of one rank and two cards 8️⃣ of another
rank - for example three sevens and two tens (colloquially known as "sevens on tens").
When comparing full 8️⃣ 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 8️⃣ a kind were equal, the rank of the
pairs would decide.
5. Flush
Five cards of the same suit. When comparing two 8️⃣ flushes,
the highest card determines which is higher. If the highest cards are equal then the
second highest card is 8️⃣ compared; if those are equal too, then the third highest card,
and so on. For example K- J- 9- 3- 8️⃣ 2 beats K- J- 7- 6- 5 because the nine beats the
seven.
6. Straight
Five cards of mixed suits in sequence 8️⃣ - for example Q- J- 10- 9- 8.
When somparing two sequences, the one with the higher ranking top card 8️⃣ is better. Ace
can count high or low in a straight, but not both at once, so A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A
8️⃣ 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.
7. 8️⃣ Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank plus two
other cards. When comparing two threes of a kind 8️⃣ the hand in which the three equal
cards are of higher rank is better. So for example 5-5-5-3-2 beats 4-4-4-K-Q. 8️⃣ If you
have to compare two threes of a kind where the sets of three are of equal rank, then
8️⃣ the higher of the two remaining cards in each hand are compared, and if those are
equal, the lower odd 8️⃣ card is compared.
8. Two Pairs
A pair is two cards of equal rank.
In a hand with two pairs, the two 8️⃣ pairs are of different ranks (otherwise you would
have four of a kind), and there is an odd card to 8️⃣ make the hand up to five cards. When
comparing hands with two pairs, the hand with the highest pair wins, 8️⃣ irrespective of
the rank of the other cards - so J-J-2-2-4 beats 10-10-9-9-8 because the jacks beat the
tens. If 8️⃣ the higher pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared, so that for example
8-8-6-6-3 beats 8-8-5-5-K. Finally, if both 8️⃣ pairs are the same, the odd cards are
compared, so Q-Q-5-5-8 beats Q-Q-5-5-4.
9. Pair
A hand with two cards of equal 8️⃣ rank and
three other cards which do not match these or each other. When comparing two such
hands, the hand 8️⃣ with the higher pair is better - so for example 6-6-4-3-2 beats
5-5-A-K-Q. If the pairs are equal, compare the 8️⃣ highest ranking odd cards from each
hand; if these are equal compare the second highest odd card, and if these 8️⃣ are equal
too compare the lowest odd cards. So J-J-A-9-3 beats J-J-A-8-7 because the 9 beats the
8.
10. High Card
Five 8️⃣ cards which do not form any of the combinations listed above.
When comparing two such hands, the one with the 8️⃣ better highest card wins. If the
highest cards are equal the second cards are compared; if they are equal too 8️⃣ the third
cards are compared, and so on. So A-J-9-5-3 beats A-10-9-6-4 because the jack beats the
ten.
