Hand rankings
Poker is a game where “Lady Luck” is ranked subordinate to the skills and expertese of the player.
The winner of each poker hand is the player who has the strongest combination of cards, using any combination of "pocket" cards and "community" cards. Possible winning combinations arranged from strongest to weakest with an example provided for each can be seen below.
Royal Flush
Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit.
Straight Flush
Straight with all five cards in the same suit.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same number or face value ("quads").
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.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit. If there is more than one flush, the hand with the highest card(s) wins.
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) or in the lowest straight (A, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same number or face value ("trips").
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.
One Pair
Two cards of the same number or face value. If two players have the same pair, the highest outside card(s) wins.
High Card
The hand with the highest card(s) wins.
