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 lowest rank under ace-to-five low or ace-to-six 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 ways to deal five cards from the deck but only 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
*
Only possible when using one or more wild cards
**
Category does not exist under ace-to-five low rules
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]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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]
A wild card in card games is one that may be used to represent any other playing card, sometimes with certain restrictions. Jokers are often used as wild cards, but other cards may be designated as wild by the rules or by agreement. In addition to their use in card games played with a standard pack, wild cards may also exist in dedicated deck card games, such as the 'Master' card in Lexicon.
In poker, the nut hand is the strongest possible hand in a given situation. The second-nut hand or third-nut hand may refer to the second and third best possible hands. The term applies mostly to community card poker games where the individual holding the strongest possible hand, with the given board of community cards, is capable of knowing that they have the nut hand.
In a poker game with more than one betting round, an out is any unseen card that, if drawn, will improve a player's hand to one that is likely to win. Knowing the number of outs a player has is an important part of poker strategy. For example, in draw poker, a hand with four diamonds has nine outs to make a flush: there are 13 diamonds in the deck, and four of them have been seen. If a player has two small pairs, and he believes that it will be necessary for him to make a full house to win, then he has four outs: the two remaining cards of each rank that he holds.
Omaha hold 'em is a community card poker game similar to Texas hold 'em, where each player is dealt four cards and must make their best hand using exactly two of them, plus exactly three of the five community cards. The exact origin of the game is unknown, but casino executive Robert Turner first brought Omaha into a casino setting when he introduced the game to Bill Boyd, who offered it as a game at the Las Vegas Golden Nugget Casino. Omaha uses a 52-card French deck. Omaha hold 'em 8-or-better is the "O" game featured in H.O.R.S.E.
Five-card stud is the earliest form of the card game stud poker, originating during the American Civil War, but is less commonly played today than many other more popular poker games. It is still a popular game in parts of the world, especially in Finland where a specific variant of five-card stud called Sökö is played. The word sökö is also used for checking in Finland.
Seven-card stud, also known as Seven-Toed Pete or Down-The-River, is a variant of stud poker. Before the 2000s surge of popularity of Texas hold 'em, seven-card stud was one of the most widely played poker variants in home games across the United States and in casinos in the eastern part of the country. Although seven-card stud is not as common in casinos today, it is still played online. The game is commonly played with two to eight players, however, eight may require special rules for the last cards dealt if no players fold. With experienced players who fold often, playing with nine players is possible.
In poker, the probability of each type of 5-card hand can be computed by calculating the proportion of hands of that type among all possible hands.
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. 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.
High card by suit and low card by suit refer to assigning relative values to playing cards of equal rank based on their suit. When suit ranking is applied, the most common conventions from lowest to highest are:
Rummy is a group of games related by the feature of matching cards of the same rank or sequence and same suit. The basic goal in any form of rummy is to build melds which can be either sets or runs and either be first to go out or to amass more points than the opposition.
Desmoche is a popular rummy card game usually played for small stakes which closely resembles other games in the rummy family, like Conquian and gin rummy, more than poker. It was probably devised in Nicaragua in the first half of the 20th century.
Tiến lên is a shedding-type card game originating in southern China and Vietnam. It may be considered Vietnam's national card game, and is also played in the United States, sometimes under the names Viet Cong, VC, Thirteen, or Killer.
Open-ended refers to a situation in poker where the player has four of five cards needed for a straight that can be completed at either end. For example, a player with 3♥ 4♥ 5♣ 6♠ is open-ended, because a deuce or a seven would give the player a straight. This situation is also called an outside straight draw or double-ended straight draw as the cards needed to complete the straight are cards which are on the outside of the current hand, as opposed to an inside draw such as 2♦3♠ 4♠6♥ or A♣ 2♣ 3♣ 4♦, which can only be completed by a five. The term originated with draw poker but is also used in games like Texas hold'em.
Pusoy dos, a variation of big two, is a popular type of "shedding" card game that originates on the islands of the Philippines in Calauag, Quezon Province. The object of the game is to be the first to discard one's hand by playing them to the table. If one cannot be first to play all cards, then the aim is to have as few cards as possible. Cards can be played separately or in certain combinations using poker hand rankings. Games of Pusoy Dos can be played by three or four people.
In community card poker, a player or hand is said to be counterfeited when a community card does not change the value of their hand, but makes it more likely that an opponent will beat it. This occurs primarily in Omaha hold 'em Hi-Lo split and sometimes in Texas hold 'em. Counterfeiting also occurs in the Badugi variant of draw poker.
Badugi is a draw poker variant similar to triple draw, with hand-values similar to lowball. The betting structure and overall play of the game is identical to a standard poker game using blinds, but, unlike traditional poker which involves a minimum of five cards, players' hands contain only four cards at any one time. During each of three drawing rounds, players can trade zero to four cards from their hands for new ones from the deck, in an attempt to form the best badugi hand and win the pot. Badugi is often a gambling game, with the object being to win money in the form of pots. The winner of the pot is the person with the best badugi hand at the conclusion of play. Badugi is played in cardrooms around the world, as well as online, in rooms such as PokerStars. Although it hasn’t had its own tournament per se at the WSOP, it is featured in the Dealers Choice events as well as in the Triple Draw Mix. The 2023 WSOP event does have a Badugi tournament scheduled.
High Stakes Poker is an American cash game poker television program. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. The first four seasons ran from January 16, 2006 to December 17, 2007 on GSN. The next three seasons ran from March 1, 2009 to May 21, 2011, and was simulcast in 3DTV on N3D. The show was revived on December 16, 2020 on PokerGO.
Danny Nguyen is a poker dealer and poker player from San Jose, California.
Poker hand A is said to dominate poker hand B if poker hand B has three or fewer outs that would improve it enough to win. Informally, domination is sometimes used to refer to any situation where one hand is highly likely to beat another. The term drawing dead is used to denote a domination situation with zero outs.
Draw poker is any poker variant in which each player is dealt a complete hand before the first betting round, and then develops the hand for later rounds by replacing, or "drawing", cards.
References
↑ Krieger, Lou (2006). "What is Poker?". The Poker Player's Bible. South Africa: Struik Publishers. pp.12–14. ISBN978-1-77007-469-9.
↑ Harrock, Richard (2011). "The Basics of Play". Poker for Dummies, Mini Edition. United States of America: Wiley Publishing, Inc. ISBN978-0-470-05565-6.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Scott, Alex (2010). "How to Play Lowball Draw". What I Know about Poker: Lessons in Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Other Poker Games. p.24. ISBN978-0-9567151-3-5.
↑ Erickson, David (2015). "3.2.5.3 Broadway straight". Superior Texas Hold'em: Evolved Poker Strategy. United States of America: Evergent Teknologies. ISBN978-0-9938197-0-4.
↑ Zee, Ray (2007). High-Low-Split Poker, Seven-Card Stud and Omaha Eight-or-better for Advanced Players. United States of America: Two Plus Two Publishing LLC. p.323. ISBN978-1-880685-10-5.
↑ Malmuth, Mason (1998). "Ace-to-Five Lowball". Winning Concepts in Draw and Lowball (2nded.). United States of America: Two Plus Two Publishing. p.45. ISBN1-880685-07-8.
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