Rules

Poker Hand rankings

There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the individual cards, from high to low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no ranking between the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal.

A poker hand consists of five cards. The categories of hand, from highest to lowest, are listed below. Any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category (so for example any three of a kind beats any two pairs). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better, as described in more detail below.

1. Royal Flush

This is the highest poker hand. It consists of ace, king, queen, jack, ten, all in the same suit.

2. Straight Flush

Five cards of the same suit in sequence

3. Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank - such as four jacks.

4. Full House

This consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank

5. Flush

Five cards of the same suit

6. Straight

Five cards of mixed suits in sequence

7. Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank plus two other cards

8. Two Pairs

A pair is two cards of equal rank. In a hand with two pairs, the two pairs are of different ranks

9. Pair

A hand with two cards of equal rank and three other cards which do not match these or each other.

10. 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

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