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