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Poker Hand Ranking
When betting concludes, the "Showdown"
occurs. Poker hands are then compared with each other. In most games,
the high poker hand wins at least a portion of the pot.
Below are rankings to determine the highest hand.
They are listed below in order of strongest to weakest. Please note
that some hands, such as "Five Aces" only occur in specific
games.
| 1.
Royal Flush |
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| The
best possible straight flush. 10, Jack, Queen, King,
and Ace - of the same suit. |
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| 2.
Straight Flush |
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| Cards
of five consecutive ranks, all of the same suit. |
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| 3.
Four of a kind |
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| Four
cards of any one rank, and any other card. |
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| 4.
Full house |
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| Three
cards of one rank, and two cards of a second rank. |
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| 5.
Flush |
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| Any
five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. |
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| 6.
Straight |
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| Cards
of five consecutive ranks when not all five are
of the same suit. |
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| 7.
Three of a Kind |
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| Three
cards of the same rank and two unrelated cards. |
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| 8.
Two pair |
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| Two
cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and
a fifth. |
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| 9.
One Pair |
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| Two
cards of the same rank and three other unrelated
cards. |
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| 10.
High Card |
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| Five
unrelated cards - no pair, no flush, no straight.
Known as a "Busted Hand". |
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In the event of a tie, the player with the highest
card value will win. For example: If two players have a straight,
one with an 8 high and the other being 9 high, the 9-high straight
would win the pot. Similarly, if the best two poker hands are both
a pair of kings, the highest card outside of the pair, also called
"the kicker," will determine the winner of the hand.
When more than one player has exactly the same-ranked
hand, the pot will be split between them. If the amount of the pot
cannot be split evenly between the winners, the remainder is given
to the player(s) nearest the Dealer button.
The Joker
Many forms of 5 Card Draw Poker will include
a joker in the deck. When there is a Joker, it is not completely
wild for high - meaning it won't count as anything higher than an
ace. You may, however, use a Joker to complete a straight or a flush.
Poker Low Hand Ranking
Some of the poker games on TexasHoldemGame.com
give half the pot to the player with the lowest hand. (In Lowball
Poker, the lowest hand wins the entire pot!) The lowest hand is
decided as follows:
- Flushes and straights are ignored
- A poker hand with no pair is considered lower than a poker hand
with a pair.
- Aces are low.
- In a showdown between poker hands with no pairs, you start with
the highest card
in each. The lowest high card wins.
- If two hands have the same top card, you go down to the second
highest card
and compare them. You continue moving down until you get
to a hand with
a lower card.
Here are some samples:
Here are a few of the best low hands:
8 or Better
For Hi/Lo poker games a hand must not only be
the lowest hand to win, but it must also qualify. Your highest card
must be no higher than an 8 and you must have no pair in your hand.
If no low hand qualifies, the high hand(s) wins
the entire pot.
The Joker
If there is a Joker in your hand it is completely
wild for low. It will always count as the lowest card in your hand.
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