List of poker hands – Wikipedia

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In poker, players form sets of five playing cards, called hands, according to the rules of the game.[1] Each hand has a rank, which is compared against the ranks of other hands participating in the showdown to decide who wins the pot.[2] In high games, like Texas hold 'em and seven-card stud, the highest-ranking hands win. In low games, like razz, the lowest-ranking hands win. In high-low split games, both the highest-ranking and lowest-ranking hands win, though different rules are used to rank the high and low hands.[3][4]

Each hand belongs to a category determined by the patterns formed by its cards. A hand in a higher-ranking category always ranks higher than a hand in a lower-ranking category. A hand is ranked within its category using the ranks of its cards.[5] Individual cards are ranked, from highest to lowest: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2.[6] However, aces have the lowest rank under ace-to-five low or ace-to-six low rules, or under high rules as part of a five-high straight or straight flush.[7][8] Suits are not ranked, so hands that differ by suit alone are of equal rank.[9]

There are nine categories of hand when using a standard 52-card deck, except under ace-to-five low rules where straights, flushes and straight flushes are not recognized. An additional category, five of a kind, exists when using one or more wild cards. The fewer hands a category contains, the higher its rank.[10] There are 52 ! ( 52 5 ) ! = 311 , 875 , 200 {displaystyle {begin{matrix}{frac {52!}{(52-5)!}}=311,875,200end{matrix}}} ways to deal five cards from the deck but only 52 ! ( 52 5 ) ! 5 ! = 2 , 598 , 960 {displaystyle {begin{matrix}{frac {52!}{(52-5)!5!}}=2,598,960end{matrix}}} distinct hands, because the order in which cards are dealt or arranged in a hand does not matter.[11] Moreover, since hands differing only by suit are of equal rank, there are only 7,462 distinct hand ranks.[12][13]

Five of a kind is a hand that contains five cards of one rank, such as 3333Jkr ("five of a kind, threes"). It ranks above a straight flush but is only possible when using one or more wild cards, as there are only four cards of each rank in the deck.[7] Five of a kind, aces, AAAAJkr, becomes possible when a joker is added to the deck as a bug, a form of wild card that may act as a fifth ace.[6] Other wild card rules allow jokers or other designated cards to represent any card in the deck, making it possible to form five of a kind of any rank.[14]

Each five of a kind is ranked by the rank of its quintuplet. For example, QQQQQ ranks higher than 66666.[7][15]

A jack-high straight flush

A straight flush is a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, all of the same suit, such as QJ1098 (a "queen-high straight flush").[4] It ranks below five of a kind and above four of a kind.[6] Under high rules, an ace can rank either high (as in AKQJ10, an ace-high straight flush) or low (as in 5432A, a five-high straight flush), but cannot simultaneously rank both high and low (so QKA23 is an ace-high flush, but not a straight).[7][15] Under deuce-to-seven low rules, an ace always ranks high (so 5432A is an ace-high flush). Under ace-to-six low rules, an ace always rank low (so AKQJ10 is a king-high flush).[16] Under ace-to-five low rules, straight flushes are not possible (so 98765 is a nine-high hand).[8]

Each straight flush is ranked by the rank of its highest-ranking card. For example, 109876 ranks higher than 87654, which ranks higher than 65432. Straight flush hands that differ by suit alone, such as 76543 and 76543, are of equal rank.[7][15]

An ace-high straight flush, such as AKQJ10, is called a royal flush or royal straight flush and is the best possible hand in high games when not using wild cards.[6][17][18] A five-high straight flush, such as 5432A, is called a steel wheel and is both the best low hand and usually the best high hand of the showdown in ace-to-five high-low split games.[4]

Four of a kind, also known as quads, is a hand that contains four cards of one rank and one card of another rank (the kicker), such as 9999J ("four of a kind, nines"). It ranks below a straight flush and above a full house.[6]

Each four of a kind is ranked first by the rank of its quadruplet, and then by the rank of its kicker. For example, KKKK3 ranks higher than 7777Q, which ranks higher than 777710. Four of a kind hands that differ by suit alone, such as 44449 and 44449, are of equal rank.[7][15]

A full house, sixes over kings

A full house, also known as a full boat or a boat (and originally called a full hand), is a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, such as 33366 (a "full house, threes over sixes" or "threes full of sixes" or "threes full").[19][20] It ranks below four of a kind and above a flush.[6]

Each full house is ranked first by the rank of its triplet, and then by the rank of its pair. For example, 88877 ranks higher than 44499, which ranks higher than 44455. Full house hands that differ by suit alone, such as KKKJJ and KKKJJ, are of equal rank.[7][15]

A flush is a hand that contains five cards all of the same suit, not all of sequential rank, such as K10764 (a "king-high flush" or a "king-ten-high flush").[21] It ranks below a full house and above a straight.[6] Under ace-to-five low rules, flushes are not possible (so J8432 is a jack-high hand).[8]

Each flush is ranked first by the rank of its highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its second highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its third highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its fourth highest-ranking card, and finally by the rank of its lowest-ranking card. For example, KJ964 ranks higher than QJ765, which ranks higher than J10942, which ranks higher than J10863, which ranks higher than J10843, which ranks higher than J10842. Flush hands that differ by suit alone, such as 108765 and 108765, are of equal rank.[7][15]

A straight is a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, not all of the same suit, such as 76543 (a "seven-high straight"). It ranks below a flush and above three of a kind.[6] Under high rules, an ace can rank either high (as in AKQJ10, an ace-high straight) or low (as in 5432A, a five-high straight), but cannot simultaneously rank both high and low (so QKA23 is an ace-high hand).[7][15] Under deuce-to-seven low rules, an ace always ranks high (so 5432A is an ace-high hand). Under ace-to-six low rules, an ace always ranks low (so AKQJ10 is a king-high hand).[16] Under ace-to-five low rules, straights are not possible (so 109876 is a ten-high hand).[8]

Each straight is ranked by the rank of its highest-ranking card. For example, J10987 ranks higher than 109876, which ranks higher than 65432. Straight hands that differ by suit alone, such as 98765 and 98765, are of equal rank.[7][15]

An ace-high straight, such as AKQJ10, is called a Broadway straight,[22] while a five-high straight, such as 5432A, is called a baby straight,[23] bicycle or wheel and is the best possible hand in ace-to-five low games (where it is a high card hand, not a straight).[24][25]

Three of a kind, also known as trips or a set, is a hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of two other ranks (the kickers), such as 222K6 ("three of a kind, twos" or "trip twos" or a "set of twos"). It ranks below a straight and above two pair.[6]

Each three of a kind is ranked first by the rank of its triplet, then by the rank of its highest-ranking kicker, and finally by the rank of its lowest-ranking kicker. For example, 666Q4 ranks higher than 333K2, which ranks higher than 333J7, which ranks higher than 333J5. Three of a kind hands that differ by suit alone, such as 999108 and 999108, are of equal rank.[7][15]

In community card games, such as Texas hold 'em, three of a kind is called a set only when it comprises a pocket pair and a third card on the board.[26]

Two pair, jacks and threes

Two pair is a hand that contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and one card of a third rank (the kicker), such as JJ449 ("two pair, jacks and fours" or "two pair, jacks over fours" or "jacks up").[19][27] It ranks below three of a kind and above one pair.[6]

Each two pair is ranked first by the rank of its highest-ranking pair, then by the rank of its lowest-ranking pair, and finally by the rank of its kicker. For example, 101022K ranks higher than 554410, which ranks higher than 5533Q, which ranks higher than 5533J. Two pair hands that differ by suit alone, such as KK778 and KK778, are of equal rank.[7][15]

One pair, or simply a pair, is a hand that contains two cards of one rank and three cards of three other ranks (the kickers), such as 44K105 ("one pair, fours" or a "pair of fours"). It ranks below two pair and above high card.[6]

Each one pair is ranked first by the rank of its pair, then by the rank of its highest-ranking kicker, then by the rank of its second highest-ranking kicker, and finally by the rank of its lowest-ranking kicker. For example, 99QJ5 ranks higher than 66K74, which ranks higher than 66QJ2, which ranks higher than 66Q87, which ranks higher than 66Q83. One-pair hands that differ by suit alone, such as 881065 and 881065, are of equal rank.[7][15]

High card, also known as no pair or simply nothing, is a hand that does not fall into any other category, such as KJ874 ("high card, king" or "king-jack-high" or "king-high").[19][28] Note that under ace-to-five low rules, straights, flushes and straight flushes are not possible, so such hands are instead high card hands.[8] It ranks below one pair.[6]

Each high card hand is ranked first by the rank of its highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its second highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its third highest-ranking card, then by the rank of its fourth highest-ranking card, and finally by the rank of its lowest-ranking card. For example, K6532 ranks higher than QJ653, which ranks higher than Q10874, which ranks higher than Q10764, which ranks higher than Q10754, which ranks higher than Q10752. High card hands that differ by suit alone, such as 108764 and 108764, are of equal rank.[7][15]

Under deuce-to-seven low rules, a seven-five-high hand, such as 75432, is the best possible hand.[29] Under ace-to-six low rules, where aces have the lowest rank, a six-four-high hand, such as 6432A, is the best possible hand.[30] Under ace-to-five low rules, where aces have the lowest rank and straights, flushes and straight flushes are not possible, a five-high hand, such as 5432A or 5432A, commonly known as a bicycle or wheel, is the best possible hand.[8][24]

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List of poker hands - Wikipedia