Five of a King:
When using a joker or wild cards, Five of a Kind is the best hand, with five aces (the four natural aces plus the joker).
Flush:
If there is no joker, the best possible hand is a Straight Flush: five consecutive cards of the same suit. The highest straight flush is a Royal Flush. A Royal Flush includes the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit.
Four of a Kind:
Four cards of the same rank, is the next best hand. As always, higher ranks are better — four tens would beat four sixes.
Full House:
This is made by three cards of the same rank, with a pair of another rank. The higher ranking three cards will determine which full house beats another.
Flush:
Five cards of the same suit. For example, the Ace, Queen, Nine, Seven and Three of clubs. When comparing flushes, they are ranked from the top card, down. If two flushes have exactly the same cards, for instance AJ976 of spades versus AJ976 of hearts, this is a tie and a pot would be split.
Straight:
Five sequential cards of different suits. When two straights are shown, the highest card determines the winner. An Ace can be used to make either a “Broadway” straight of AKQJT or a “wheel” straight of 5432A. “Around the corner” straights like 32AKQ are not allowed.
Three of a Kind:
Three cards of the same rank. As always, a higher ranked three of a kind defeats a lower ranked three of a kind. In flop games it is possible for both players to have the same three of a kind, in which case the two unrelated “kicker” cards would determine the winner. If the two hands are identical, the pot is split.
Two Pair:
Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and a kicker of a third rank.
One Pair:
Two cards of the same rank, and three unrelated cards. When players have the same pair, the unrelated “kicker” cards are valued in order, so 99Q32 defeats 99765.
No Pair, High Card: poker hands with no pair or any of the other ranking values listed above. When comparing no pair hands, the highest card determines the winner, using each card in order.
