Poker Hand ranking

STRAIGHT FLUSH

Five cards of the same suit in sequence

In the event of a tie: Highest different card wins.

The best possible straight flush is known as a royal flush, which contains an ace, king, queen, jack and ten of the same suit. A royal flush is an unbeatable hand.

FOUR OF A KIND

Four cards of the same rank, and one side card or ‘kicker’.

In the event of a tie: Highest four of a kind wins. 

FULL HOUSE

Three cards of the same rank, and two cards of a different matching rank.

In the event of a tie: Highest three matching cards wins the pot. Whenever players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins.

FLUSH

Five cards of the same suit not in squence.

In the event of a tie: The player holding the highest ranked card wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest, and fifth-highest cards can be used to break the tie. If all five cards are the same ranks, the pot is split. The suit itself is never used to break a tie in poker.

STRAIGHT

Five cards in sequence.

In the event of a tie: Highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins.

Note: The Ace may be used at the top or bottom of the sequence and is the only card which can act in this manner. A,K,Q,J,T is the highest (Ace high) straight; 5,4,3,2,A is the lowest (Five high) straight.

THREE OF A KIND

Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side cards.

In the event of a tie: Highest ranked three of a kind wins. Whenever players have the same three of a kind, the highest side card, and if necessary, the second-highest side card will be used to break the tie.

TWO-PAIR

Two cards of a matching rank, another two cards of a different matching rank, and one side card.

In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have two identical pairs, highest side card wins.

ONE PAIR

Two cards of a matching rank and three unrelated side cards.

In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest side card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest side card will be used to break the tie.

HIGH CARD

Any hand that does not qualify under a category listed above.

In the event of a tie: Highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie.