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