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Standard Poker Hand Ranking

There would be 52 cards in the deck, and the ranking for all the cards from high to low, is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and there would be no ranking for the suits.

A typical poker hand comprises of five cards, for which the categories would begin from highest to lowest, as listed beneath. There can be no constraints and, as such, any hand in the higher category can overcome any hand in lower category. Between hands in the same category, the rank of the individual cards decides which the better one is.

In the case of games, where a player has more than five cards and selects five to form a poker hand, the remaining cards do not play any part in the ranking. Poker ranks are always based on five cards only.

Royal Flush

Royal is reckoned to be the highest poker hand. A typical royal flush comprises of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten, all in the same suit. Since all the suits are equal, all royal flushes are also equal.

Straight Flush

Straight Flush can be assumed when 5 cards of the same suit in the sequence – For instance,clubJ-club10-club9-club8-club7are known as Straight Flush, and between 2 straight flushes, the one containing the higher top card is higher.
However, an Ace could be considered as low, so heart5-heart4-heart3-heart2-heartA is a straight flush. So the top card is 5, but not the ace, and hence it is the lowest type of straight flush.

Four-of-a-kind

Four cards of the same rank like 4 Queens, but the 5th card could be anything. However, this combination is sometimes called as "quads". In fact, in some parts of Europe, it is termed as a "poker". Between two fours of a kind, the one with the higher set and ranking of four cards is higher - so 3-3-3-3-A is beaten by 4-4-4-4-2.

Full House

A full house consists of 3 cards of the same rank and 2 cards of another rank. For instance 3 sevens and 2 tens are called as "sevens full" or more precisely "sevens on tens"). While comparing the full houses, the rank of the 3 cards determines which is higher. For example 9-9-9-4-4 beats 8-8-8-A-A.

Flush

If 5 cards are of the same suit and rank, then it is said to be a Flush. While comparing two flushes, the highest card would determine which is higher, but if the highest cards are equal, then in such case, the second highest card would be compared, and if they are also equal, then the third highest card would be considered and so on. For instance spadeK-J-9-3-2 beatsK-J-7-6-5 since 9 is greater than 7

Straight

5 cards of mixed suits in the sequence like spadeQ-diamondJ-heart10-spade9-club8. While evaluating two sequences, the one with higher ranking top card is bettered. An Ace could be considered as high or low in a straight, but not both simultaneously. Thus, A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A are reckoned to be valid straights, but 2-A-K-Q-J is not.

Three-of-a-Kind

When 3 cards of the same rank and 2 other cards are associated together, it is known as Three of Kind. This combination is otherwise called as Triplets or Trips. While comparing two threes of a kind, the hand in which the three equal cards are of higher rank is better. For example 5-5-5-3-2 can overcome 4-4-4-K-Q.

Two Pairs

If any 2 cards of the same rank associated with another 2 cards of the same rank, then such sequence is Two Pairs. For example 8-8-6-6-3 can overcome 8-8-5-5-K. Finally, if both pairs are the same, the odd cards are compared, so Q-Q-5-5-8 beats Q-Q-5-5-4.

Pair

A hand with two cards of equal rank and three other cards which do not match these or each other. When comparing two such hands, the hand with the higher pair is better - so for example 6-6-4-3-2 beats 5-5-A-K-Q. If the pairs are equal, compare the highest ranking odd cards from each hand; if these are equal compare the second highest odd card, and if these are equal too compare the lowest odd cards.

High Card

Five cards which do not form any of the combinations listed above. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better highest card wins. If the highest cards are equal the second cards are compared; if they are equal too the third cards are compared, and so on. So A-J-9-5-3 beats A-10-9-6-4 because the jack beats the ten.