Non-standard poker hands are hands which are not recognized by official poker rules but are made by house rules. Non-standard ⚾️ hands usually appear in games using wild cards or bugs. Other terms for nonstandard hands are special hands or freak ⚾️ hands.[1] Because the hands are defined by house rules, the composition and ranking of these hands is subject to variation. ⚾️ Any player participating in a game with non-standard hands should be sure to determine the exact rules of the game ⚾️ before play begins.[2]
Types [ edit ]
The usual hierarchy of poker hands from highest to lowest runs as follows (standard poker ⚾️ hands are in italics):[3]
Royal Flush : The highest straight flush, A-K-Q-J-10 suited.
: The highest straight flush, A-K-Q-J-10 suited. Skeet flush ⚾️ : The same cards as a skeet (see below) but all in the same suit. [4]
: The same cards as ⚾️ a skeet (see below) but all in the same suit. Straight flush : When wild cards are used, a wild ⚾️ card becomes whichever card is necessary to complete the straight flush, or the higher of the two cards that can ⚾️ complete an open-ended straight flush. For example, in the hand 10♠ 9♠ (Wild) 7♠ 6♠ , it becomes the 8♠ ⚾️ , and in the hand (Wild) Q♦ J♦ 10♦ 9♦ , it plays as the K♦ (even though the 8♦ ⚾️ would also make a straight flush).
: When wild cards are used, a wild card becomes whichever card is necessary to ⚾️ complete the straight flush, or the higher of the two cards that can complete an open-ended straight flush. For example, ⚾️ in the hand , it becomes the , and in the hand , it plays as the (even though the ⚾️ would also make a straight flush). Four of a kind : Between two equal sets of four of a kind ⚾️ (possible in wild card and community card poker games or with multiple or extended decks), the kicker determines the winner.
: ⚾️ Between two equal sets of four of a kind (possible in wild card and community card poker games or with ⚾️ multiple or extended decks), the kicker determines the winner. Big bobtail : A four card straight flush (four cards of ⚾️ the same suit in consecutive order). [3] [5]
: A four card straight flush (four cards of the same suit in ⚾️ consecutive order). Full house
Flush: When wild cards are used, a wild card contained in a flush is considered to be ⚾️ of the highest rank not already present in the hand. For example, in the hand (Wild) 10♥ 8♥ 5♥ 4♥ ⚾️ , the wild card plays as the A♥ , but in the hand A♣ K♣ (Wild) 9♣ 6♣, it plays ⚾️ as the Q♣. (As noted above, if a wild card would complete a straight flush, it will play as the ⚾️ card that would make the highest possible hand.) A variation is the double-ace flush rule, in which a wild card ⚾️ in a flush always plays as an ace, even if one is already present (unless the wild card would complete ⚾️ a straight flush). In such a game, the hand A♠ (Wild) 9♠ 5♠ 2♠ would defeat A♦ K♦ Q♦ 10♦ ⚾️ 8♦ (the wild card playing as an imaginary second A♠), whereas by the standard rules it would lose (because even ⚾️ with the wild card playing as a K♠, the latter hand's Q♦ outranks the former's 9♠).
Five and Dime
Skeet
Bobtail Flush
Flush House
Flush ⚾️ House
Some poker games are played with a deck that has been stripped of certain cards, usually low-ranking ones. For example, ⚾️ the Australian game of Manila uses a 32-card deck in which all cards below the rank of 7 are removed, ⚾️ and Mexican Stud removes the 8s, 9s, and 10s. In both of these games, a flush ranks above a full ⚾️ house, because having fewer cards of each suit available makes full houses more common.
Cats and dogs [ edit ]
"Cats" (or ⚾️ "tigers") and "dogs" are types of no-pair hands defined by their highest and lowest cards. The remaining three cards are ⚾️ kickers. Dogs and cats rank above straights and below Straight Flush houses. Usually, when cats and dogs are played, they ⚾️ are the only unconventional hands allowed.
Little dog : Seven high, two low (for example, 7-6-4-3-2). It ranks just above a ⚾️ straight, and below a Straight Flush House or any other cat or dog. In standard poker seven high is the ⚾️ lowest hand possible. [6] [2]
: Seven high, two low (for example, 7-6-4-3-2). It ranks just above a straight, and below ⚾️ a Straight Flush House or any other cat or dog. In standard poker seven high is the lowest hand possible. ⚾️ Big dog : Ace high, nine low (for example, A-K-J-10-9). Ranks above a straight or little dog, and below a ⚾️ Straight Flush House or cat. [6] [2]
: Ace high, nine low (for example, A-K-J-10-9). Ranks above a straight or little ⚾️ dog, and below a Straight Flush House or cat. Little cat (or little tiger ): Eight high, three low. Ranks ⚾️ above a straight or any dog, but below a Straight Flush House or big cat. [6] [2]
(or ): Eight high, ⚾️ three low. Ranks above a straight or any dog, but below a Straight Flush House or big cat. Big cat ⚾️ (or big tiger): King high, eight low. It ranks just below a Straight Flush House, and above a straight or ⚾️ any other cat or dog.[6][2]
Some play that dog or cat flushes beat a straight flush, under the reasoning that a ⚾️ plain dog or cat beats a plain straight. This makes the big cat flush the highest hand in the game.[5]
Kilters ⚾️ [ edit ]
A Kilter, also called Kelter, is a generic term for a number of different non-standard hands. Depending on ⚾️ house rules, a Kilter may be a Skeet, a Little Cat, a Skip Straight, or some variation of one of ⚾️ these hands.[5] According to Paul Anthony Jones, it can simply mean a hand of little value.[6] According to Penn Jillette ⚾️ and Mickey D. Lynn, a Kelter is "a nonstandard hand given value in home games."[3]
See also [ edit ]
