Poker Evaluation - Hand Ranking

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Poker Evaluation

Hand Ranking

Poker has many games and forms. But a poker hand is always five cards.

In 7-card Stud, for example, even though each player has seven cards, only the best five of those cards play. Poker has no six- or seven-card hands. Thus, the seven-card stud hand As Ad 3s 3d 6h 5d 3c beats Ks Kd 9h 9s 7s 7d 2s, even though the second hand contains three pairs while the first has two pairs.

Similarly, if a Hold 'em board was 9s 9h 7d Js 7c, the pot would be split between two players holding 6s 6d and 5c 5h, even though the player with the two sixes which is a bigger pair than two fives. The reason is the best five of seven cards for each player is the same: two pair 9s 9h 7d 7c, with a jack kicker.

The following is the hand ranking from highest to lowest.
The higher ranked hand beats the lower ranked hand. For example, any straight flush beats any four of a kind; any flush beats any straight.

Royal Flush: is a special name given to the highest straight flush, a hand with five cards in sequence and all having the same suit. Another words, royal flush is a straight flush having an ace as its high card.

Straight Flush: a hand with five cards in sequence and all having the same suit.
In a showdown among players holding straight flushes, the hand with the highest top card wins. 10d 9d 8d 7d 6d beats 9s 8s 7s 6s 5s.

Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank. Also known as quads.
In a showdown among players holding four of a kind, the hand with the highest rank wins. Kd Kc Kh Ks 5d beats Jc Jh Jd Js Ad. If multiple hands each contain the same four of a kind (which could occur in a community card game), the hand with the highest side card wins. Kd Kc Kh Ks Ah beats Kd Kc Kh Ks Qd.

Full House: Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank.
In a showdown among players holding full houses, the hand with the highest three of a kind wins. 7h 7s 7d 3h 3s beats 6s 6c 6h Ad Ah. If multiple hands each contain the same full house (which could occur in a community card game), the hand with the highest pair wins. Kd Kh Ks As Ac beats Kd Kh Ks Qh Qd.

Flush: five cards of the same suit.
In a showdown among players holding flushes, the hand topped with the highest one or more cards wins. When the top card is tied, the next card is compared; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is compared; and so on. Ah 8h 7h 6h 5h beats Ks Qs Js 9s 8s, and Jd 10d 9d 8d 4d beats Jc 10c 9c 7c 6c.

Straight: Five consecutive cards. An ace can be high or low.
In a showdown among players holding straights, the hand with the highest top card wins. Ts 9d 8d 7c 6c beats 8s 7h 6h 5c 4c.

This is a 5-high straight. Five is the highest card, the Ace is considered as 1 in this case.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank. Also known as trips or, especially in flop games, a set.
In a showdown among players holding three of a kind, the hand with the highest rank wins. Jh Jc Js 3d 2c beats 10s 10c 10h Ah Kc. If multiple hands each contain the same three of a kind (which could occur in a community card game), the hand with the highest side cards wins. Jh Jc Js Ah Kc beats Jh Jc Jd Ah Qd.

Two Pair: Two cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank.
In a showdown among players holding two pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. As Ac Td Ts 8d beats Kd Kc Qh Qs Jd. In a showdown among players holding the same top pair, the hand with the highest second pair wins. 10s 10c 8s 8c 4d beats 10h 10d 7s 7h Ad. In a showdown among players holding the same two pairs, the hand with the highest side card (also known as kicker) wins. Jh Jd 9h 9d 4h beats Js Jc 9c 9s 3s.

One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
In a showdown among players holding one pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. Kc Kh 8d 4s 3h beats Qh Qd Ac Jd 8s. In a showdown among players holding the same pair, the hand with the highest one or more side cards wins. Js Jh 9d 8s 4d beats Jc Jd 9h 8c 3s.

No Pair: None of the above.
If no hand has a pair or better at the showdown, the hand topped by the highest one or more cards wins. When the top card is tied, the next card is compared; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is compared; and so on. Ad Ks 9h 8d 4s beats Kc Qs Jd 10c 8h, and Jc 10c 9h 7c 4d beats Js 10h 9s 7s 2d.