Poker Hands
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In poker, players construct hands of five cards
according to predetermined rules, which vary
according to the precise variant of poker being
played. These hands are compared using a
standard ranking system, and the player with the
highest-ranking hand wins that particular deal.
Although used primarily in poker, these hand
rankings are also used in other card games, and
with poker dice.
The strength of a hand is increased by having
multiple cards of the same rank, all the cards
being from the same suit, or having all the
cards with consecutive values. The position of
the various possible hands is based on the
probability of being randomly dealt such a hand
from a well-shuffled deck.
The following general rules apply to evaluating
poker hands, whatever set of hand values are
used.
Individual cards are ranked A (high), K, Q, J,
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A. Aces only appear
low when part of an A-2-3-4-5 straight or
straight flush. Individual card ranks are used
to compare hands that contain no pairs or other
special combinations, or to compare the kickers
of otherwise equal hands. The ace plays low only
in ace-to-five and ace-to-six lowball games, and
plays high only in deuce-to-seven lowball.
Suits have no value. The suits of the cards are
mainly used in determining whether a hand fits a
certain category (specifically the flush and
straight flush hands). In most variants, if two
players have hands that are identical except for
suit, then they are tied and split the pot (so
3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ does not beat 3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦).
Sometimes a ranking called high card by suit is
used for randomly selecting a player to deal.
Low card by suit usually determines the bringin
bettor in stud games.
A hand always consists of five cards. In games
where more than five cards are available to each
player, the best five-card combination of those
cards plays.
Hands are ranked first by category, then by
individual card ranks: even the lowest
qualifying hand in a certain category defeats
all hands in all lower categories. The smallest
two pair hand (2♦ 2♠ 3♦ 3♣ 4♠), for example,
defeats all hands with just one pair or high
card. Only between two hands in the same
category are card ranks used to break ties.
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Royal Flush:
Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same
suit.
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Straight Flush:
Straight with all five cards in the same
suit. |
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Four of a Kind:
Four cards of the same number or face
value ("quads"). |
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Full House:
Three cards of one number or face value
and two cards of another number or face
value. If more than one player has a
full house, the full house with the
highest ranking three of a kind
("trips") wins. |
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Flush:
Five cards of the same suit. If there is
more than one flush, the hand with the
highest card(s) wins. |
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Straight:
Five cards in sequence. Cards can be in
any suit. An Ace can be used in the
highest straight (10, J, Q, K, A) and
the lowest straight (A, 2, 3, 4, 5). |
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Three of a Kind:
Three cards of the same number or face
value ("trips"). |
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Two Pair:
If two players have two pair, the hand
with the highest pair wins. If they have
the same high pair, whoever has the
second highest pair wins. If they have
the same two pair, whoever has the
highest fifth card ("kicker") wins. |
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One Pair:
Two cards of the same number or face
value. If two players have the same
pair, the highest outside card(s) wins. |
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High Card:
The hand with the highest |
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