{{Short description|None}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} thumb|alt=Five playing cards – the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of hearts – spread out in a fan.|A ''royal flush'' is the best possible hand in many variants of poker.
In poker, players form sets of five playing cards, called ''hands'', according to the rules of the game.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book|title=The Poker Player's Bible|last=Krieger|first=Lou|publisher=Struik Publishers|year=2006|isbn=978-1-77007-469-9|location=South Africa|pages=12–14|chapter=What is Poker?}}</ref> Each hand has a rank, which is compared against the ranks of other hands participating in the showdown to decide who wins the pot.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Poker for Dummies, Mini Edition|last=Harrock|first=Richard|publisher=Wiley Publishing, Inc.|year=2011|isbn=978-0-470-05565-6|location=United States of America|chapter=The Basics of Play}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Theory of Poker|last=Sklansky|first=David|publisher=Two Plus Two Publishing LLC|year=2005|isbn=1-880685-00-0|location=United States of America|pages=[https://archive.org/details/theoryofpoker00skla/page/2 2]|url=https://archive.org/details/theoryofpoker00skla/page/2}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
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. Individual cards are ranked, from highest to lowest: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|title=The Poker Player's Bible|last=Krieger|first=Lou|publisher=Struik Publishers|year=2006|isbn=978-1-77007-469-9|location=South Africa|pages=30–34}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=The Everyday Guide to Recreational Poker|last=Greiner|first=Ron|publisher=Everyday Endeavors, LLC|year=2005|isbn=0-9769703-0-9|pages=46–60}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite book|title=What I Know about Poker: Lessons in Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Other Poker Games|last=Scott|first=Alex|year=2010|isbn=978-0-9567151-3-5|pages=24|chapter=How to Play Lowball Draw}}</ref> Suits are not ranked, so hands that differ by suit alone are of equal rank.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wsop.com/poker-hands/|title=Poker Hand Ranking {{!}} Official World Series of Poker Online|website=www.wsop.com|access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.math.hawaii.edu/~ramsey/Probability/PokerHands.html|title=Probability: 5-Card Poker Hands|website=www.math.hawaii.edu|access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> There are <math>\begin{matrix}\frac{52!}{(52-5)!} = 311{,}875{,}200\end{matrix}</math> ways to deal five cards from the deck but only <math>\begin{matrix}\frac{52!}{(52-5)!5!} = 2{,}598{,}960 \end{matrix}</math> distinct hands, because the order in which cards are dealt or arranged in a hand does not matter.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.intmath.com/counting-probability/poker.php|title=Probability and Poker|last=Bourne|first=Murray|website=www.intmath.com|access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> Moreover, since hands differing only by suit are of equal rank, there are only 7,462 distinct hand ''ranks''.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.codethrowdown.com/5CardSingleDeckHands.txt|title=FiveCardSingleDeckHands.txt|last=Berg|first=Henry|date=13 May 2013|website=Code Throwdown|access-date=13 July 2016}}</ref>
==Hand-ranking categories== {| class="wikitable" |style="text-align: center; background-color: #CEF2E0"|* |Only possible when using one or more wild cards |- |style="text-align: center; background-color: #CEE0F2"|* |Category does not exist under ace-to-five low rules |} {{srn}} {| class="wikitable static-row-numbers" style="text-align: center;" |-class=static-row-header ! Name ! Example |- |style="background-color: #CEF2E0"|Five of a kind* |style="background-color: #CEF2E0"|{{nowrap|{{card|spade|A|60px}}{{card|club|A|60px}}{{card|heart|A|60px}}{{card|diamond|A|60px}}{{card|black|Joker|60px}}}} |- |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|Royal flush* |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|{{nowrap|{{card|diamond|A|60px}} {{card|diamond|K|60px}} {{card|diamond|Q|60px}} {{card|diamond|J|60px}} {{card|diamond|10|60px}}}} |- |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|Straight flush* |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|{{nowrap|{{card|club|J|60px}} {{card|club|10|60px}} {{card|club|9|60px}} {{card|club|8|60px}} {{card|club|7|60px}}}} |- |Four of a kind |{{nowrap|{{card|club|5|60px}} {{card|diamond|5|60px}} {{card|heart|5|60px}} {{card|spade|5|60px}} {{card|diamond|2|60px}}}} |- |Full house |{{nowrap|{{card|spade|6|60px}} {{card|heart|6|60px}} {{card|diamond|6|60px}} {{card|club|K|60px}} {{card|heart|K|60px}}}} |- |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|Flush* |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|{{nowrap|{{card|diamond|J|60px}} {{card|diamond|9|60px}} {{card|diamond|8|60px}} {{card|diamond|4|60px}} {{card|diamond|3|60px}}}} |- |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|Straight* |style="background-color: #CEE0F2"|{{nowrap|{{card|diamond|10|60px}} {{card|spade|9|60px}} {{card|heart|8|60px}} {{card|diamond|7|60px}} {{card|club|6|60px}}}} |- |Three of a kind |{{nowrap|{{card|club|Q|60px}} {{card|spade|Q|60px}} {{card|heart|Q|60px}} {{card|heart|9|60px}} {{card|spade|2|60px}}}} |- |Two pair |{{nowrap|{{card|heart|J|60px}} {{card|spade|J|60px}} {{card|club|3|60px}} {{card|spade|3|60px}} {{card|heart|2|60px}}}} |- |One pair |{{nowrap|{{card|spade|10|60px}} {{card|heart|10|60px}} {{card|spade|8|60px}} {{card|heart|7|60px}} {{card|club|4|60px}}}} |- |High card |{{nowrap|{{card|diamond|K|60px}} {{card|diamond|Q|60px}} {{card|spade|7|60px}} {{card|spade|4|60px}} {{card|heart|3|60px}}}} |}
===Five of a kind=== {{anchor|Five of a kind}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|spade|A|60px}} {{card|club|A|60px}} {{card|heart|A|60px}} {{card|diamond|A|60px}} {{card|black|Joker|60px}}}} | caption = Five of a kind, aces }}
'''Five of a kind''', or ''five cards'', is a hand that contains five cards of one rank, such as {{cards|boldface=no|3h|3d|3c|3s|3}} ("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.<ref name=":4" /> Five of a kind, aces, {{cards|boldface=no|ah|ad|ac|as|Jkr}}, 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.<ref name=":12" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Card Games For Dummies|last=Rigal|first=Barry|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2005|isbn=978-0-7645-9910-1|location=111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ, USA|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cardgamesfordumm00riga/page/284 284]|url=https://archive.org/details/cardgamesfordumm00riga/page/284}}</ref>
Each five of a kind is ranked by the rank of its quintuplet. For example, {{cards|boldface=no|Qs|Qh|Qc|Qd|Q}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|6c|6s|6d|6h|6}}.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=The Rules of Poker|last1=Kreiger|first1=Lou|last2=Bykofsky|first2=Sheree|publisher=Lyle Stuart|year=2006|isbn=0-8184-0660-7|pages=99–102}}</ref>
{{clear}}
===Royal flush=== {{anchor|Royal flush}} {{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|heart|A|60px}} {{card|heart|K|60px}} {{card|heart|Q|60px}} {{card|heart|J|60px}} {{card|heart|10|60px}}}} | caption = A royal flush }}
A '''''royal flush''''' or '''royal straight flush''' is a hand that contains an ace-high straight flush, such as {{cards|boldface=no|ad|kd|qd|jd|10d}}, and is the best possible hand in ace-high games when wild cards are not used.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Small Stakes Hold 'em|last1=Miller|first1=Ed|last2=Sklansky|first2=David|last3=Malmuth|first3=Mason|publisher=Two Plus Two Publishing LLC|year=2005|isbn=1-880685-32-9|location=United States of America|pages=[https://archive.org/details/smallstakesholde00mill_0/page/343 343–358]|url=https://archive.org/details/smallstakesholde00mill_0/page/343}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Mathematics of Games: An Introduction to Probability|last=Taylor|first=David G.|publisher=CRC Press|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4822-3543-2|pages=49–51}}</ref>{{clear}}
===Straight flush=== {{anchor|Straight flush}} {{Redirect|Straight flush|other uses|Straight flush (disambiguation)}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|club|J|60px}} {{card|club|10|60px}} {{card|club|9|60px}} {{card|club|8|60px}} {{card|club|7|60px}}}} | caption = 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 {{cards|boldface=no|qh|jh|th|9h|8h}} (a "queen-high straight flush").<ref name=":9" /> It ranks below five of a kind and above four of a kind.<ref name=":12" /> Under high rules, an ace can rank either high (as in {{cards|boldface=no|ah|kh|qh|jh|th}}, a royal flush) or low (as in {{cards|boldface=no|5d|4d|3d|2d|ad}}, a five-high straight flush), but cannot simultaneously rank both high and low (so {{cards|boldface=no|qc|kc|ac|2c|3c}} is an ace-high flush, but not a straight).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=The Rules of Poker|last1=Kreiger|first1=Lou|last2=Bykofsky|first2=Sheree|publisher=Lyle Stuart|year=2006|isbn=0-8184-0660-7|pages=99–102}}</ref> Under deuce-to-seven low rules, an ace always ranks high (so {{cards|boldface=no|5s|4s|3s|2s|As}} is an ace-high flush). Under ace-to-six low rules, an ace always ranks low (so {{cards|boldface=no|Ah|Kh|Qh|Jh|10h}} is a king-high flush).<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://playlowballpoker.com/hand-rankings/|title=Lowball Hand Rankings|website=playlowballpoker.com|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> Under ace-to-five low rules, straight flushes are not possible (so {{cards|boldface=no|9c|8c|7c|6c|5c}} is a nine-high hand).<ref name=":8" /> A five-high straight flush, such as {{cards|boldface=no|5h|4h|3h|2h|ah}}, 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.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|title=The Intelligent Guide to Texas Hold'em|url=https://archive.org/details/intelligentguide00brai|url-access=limited|last=Braids|first=Sam|publisher=Intelligent Games Publishing|year=2003|isbn=0-9677551-2-3|location=Towson, Maryland|pages=[https://archive.org/details/intelligentguide00brai/page/n178 166]}}</ref>
Each straight flush is ranked by the rank of its highest-ranking card. For example, {{cards|boldface=no|10c|9c|8c|7c|6c}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|8h|7h|6h|5h|4h}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|6s|5s|4s|3s|2s}}. Straight flush hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|7d|6d|5d|4d|3d}} and {{cards|boldface=no|7s|6s|5s|4s|3s}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />{{clear}}
===Four of a kind=== {{anchor|Four of a kind}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|club|5|60px}} {{card|diamond|5|60px}} {{card|heart|5|60px}} {{card|spade|5|60px}} {{card|diamond|2|60px}}}} | caption = Four of a kind, fives }}
'''Four of a kind''', also known as ''quads'' or ''four cards'', is a hand that contains four cards of one rank and one card of another rank (the kicker), such as {{cards|boldface=no|9c|9s|9d|9h|jh}} ("four of a kind, nines" or "quad nines"). It ranks below a straight flush and above a full house.<ref name=":12" />
Each four of a kind is ranked first by the rank of its quadruplet, and then by the rank of its kicker. For example, {{cards|boldface=no|Ks|Kh|Kc|Kd|3h}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|7h|7d|7s|7c|Qh}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|7h|7d|7s|7c|10s}}. Four of a kind hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|4c|4s|4d|4h|9c}} and {{cards|boldface=no|4c|4s|4d|4h|9d}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />{{clear}}
===Full house=== {{anchor|Full house}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|spade|6|60px}} {{card|heart|6|60px}} {{card|diamond|6|60px}} {{card|club|K|60px}} {{card|heart|K|60px}}}} | caption = A full house, sixes over kings }}
A '''full house''', also known as a ''full boat'' or a ''tight'' 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 {{cards|boldface=no|3c|3s|3d|6c|6h|}} (a "full house, threes over sixes" or "threes full of sixes" or "threes full").<ref name=":13">{{Cite book|title=The Everything Poker Strategy Book|last=Wenzel|first=John|publisher=F+W Publications, Inc|year=2004|isbn=1-59337-140-3|location=United States of America|pages=6–10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=full|title=Online Etymology Dictionary|website=www.etymonline.com|access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> It ranks below four of a kind and above a flush.<ref name=":12" />
Each full house is ranked first by the rank of its triplet, and then by the rank of its pair. For example, {{cards|boldface=no|8s|8d|8h|7d|7c|}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|4d|4s|4c|9d|9c}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|4d|4s|4c|5c|5d}}. Full house hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|Kc|Ks|Kd|Jc|Js}} and {{cards|boldface=no|Kc|Kh|Kd|Jc|Jh}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />{{clear}}
===Flush=== {{anchor|Flush}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|diamond|J|60px}} {{card|diamond|9|60px}} {{card|diamond|8|60px}} {{card|diamond|4|60px}} {{card|diamond|3|60px}}}} | caption = A jack-high flush }}
A '''flush''' is a hand that contains five cards all of the same suit, not all of sequential rank, such as {{cards|boldface=no|kc|tc|7c|6c|4c}} (a "king-high flush" or a "king-ten-high flush").<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Theory of Poker|last=Sklansky|first=David|publisher=Two Plus Two Publishing LLC|year=2007|isbn=978-1-880685-00-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/theoryofpoker00skla/page/124 124]|url=https://archive.org/details/theoryofpoker00skla/page/124}}</ref> It ranks below a full house and above a straight.<ref name=":12" /> Under ace-to-five low rules, flushes are not possible (so {{cards|boldface=no|jh|8h|4h|3h|2h}} is a jack-high hand).<ref name=":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, {{cards|boldface=no|Kd|Jd|9d|6d|4d}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Qc|Jc|7c|6c|5c}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Jh|10h|9h|4h|2h}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Js|10s|8s|6s|3s}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Jh|10h|8h|4h|3h}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Jc|10c|8c|4c|2c}}. Flush hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|10d|8d|7d|6d|5d}} and {{cards|boldface=no|10s|8s|7s|6s|5s}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />{{clear}}
===Straight=== {{anchor|Straight}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|diamond|10|60px}} {{card|spade|9|60px}} {{card|heart|8|60px}} {{card|diamond|7|60px}} {{card|club|6|60px}}}} | caption = A ten-high straight }}
A '''straight''', also known as a ''run'', is a hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, not all of the same suit, such as {{cards|boldface=no|7c|6s|5s|4h|3h}} (a "seven-high straight"). It ranks below a flush and above three of a kind.<ref name=":12" /> Under high rules, an ace can rank either high (as in {{cards|boldface=no|ad|kc|qc|jd|ts}}, an ace-high straight) or low (as in {{cards|boldface=no|5c|4d|3h|2h|as}}, a five-high straight), but cannot simultaneously rank both high and low (so {{cards|boldface=no|qs|ks|ac|2h|3d}} is an ace-high hand).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> Under deuce-to-seven low rules, an ace always ranks high (so {{cards|boldface=no|5h|4s|3h|2c|Ad}} is an ace-high hand). Under ace-to-six low rules, an ace always ranks low (so {{cards|boldface=no|Ac|Ks|Qs|Jd|10s}} is a king-high hand).<ref name=":6" /> Under ace-to-five low rules, straights are not possible (so {{cards|boldface=no|10h|9s|8c|7c|6d}} is a ten-high hand).<ref name=":8" />
Each straight is ranked by the rank of its highest-ranking card. For example, {{cards|boldface=no|Jh|10h|9c|8s|7h}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|10s|9s|8c|7h|6s}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|6c|5s|4h|3s|2d}}. Straight hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|9c|8c|7c|6d|5d}} and {{cards|boldface=no|9s|8s|7s|6h|5h}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />
An ace-high straight, such as {{cards|boldface=no|Ac|Kc|Qd|Js|Ts}}, is called a '''Broadway straight''',<ref>{{Cite book|title=Superior Texas Hold'em: Evolved Poker Strategy|last=Erickson|first=David|publisher=Evergent Teknologies|year=2015|isbn=978-0-9938197-0-4|location=United States of America|chapter=3.2.5.3 Broadway straight}}</ref> while a five-high straight, such as {{cards|boldface=no|5s|4d|3d|2s|Ah}}, is called a '''baby straight''',<ref>{{Cite book|title=High-Low-Split Poker, Seven-Card Stud and Omaha Eight-or-better for Advanced Players|last=Zee|first=Ray|publisher=Two Plus Two Publishing LLC|year=2007|isbn=978-1-880685-10-5|location=United States of America|pages=323}}</ref> ''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).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Theory of Poker|last=Sklansky|first=David|publisher=Two Plus Two Publishing LLC|year=2005|isbn=1-880685-00-0|location=United States of America|pages=[https://archive.org/details/theoryofpoker00skla/page/277 277–293]|chapter=Glossary of Poker Terms|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/theoryofpoker00skla/page/277}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Winning Concepts in Draw and Lowball|last=Malmuth|first=Mason|publisher=Two Plus Two Publishing|year=1998|isbn=1-880685-07-8|edition=2nd|location=United States of America|pages=45|chapter=Ace-to-Five Lowball}}</ref>{{clear}}
===Three of a kind=== {{anchor|Three of a kind}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|club|Q|60px}} {{card|spade|Q|60px}} {{card|heart|Q|60px}} {{card|heart|9|60px}} {{card|spade|2|60px}}}} | caption = Three of a kind, queens }}
'''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 {{cards|boldface=no|2d|2s|2c|ks|6h}} ("three of a kind, twos" or "trip twos" or a "set of twos"). It ranks below a straight and above two pair.<ref name=":12" />
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, {{cards|boldface=no|6h|6d|6s|Qc|4s}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|3d|3s|3c|Ks|2s}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|3d|3s|3c|Jc|7h}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|3d|3s|3c|Js|5d}}. Three of a kind hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|9s|9h|9d|10d|8h}} and {{cards|boldface=no|9c|9s|9h|10d|8d}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />
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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Small Stakes Hold 'Em|last=Sklansky|first=David|publisher=Two Plus Two Publishing|year=2004|isbn=978-1-880685-32-7|edition=1|page=[https://archive.org/details/smallstakesholde00mill_0/page/127 127]|url=https://archive.org/details/smallstakesholde00mill_0/page/127}}</ref>{{clear}}
===Two pair=== {{anchor|Two pair}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|heart|J|60px}} {{card|spade|J|60px}} {{card|club|3|60px}} {{card|spade|3|60px}} {{card|heart|2|60px}}}} | caption = 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 {{cards|boldface=no|jh|jc|4c|4s|9h}} ("two pair, jacks and fours" or "two pair, jacks over fours" or "jacks up").<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Poker Talk|last=Cardoza|first=Avery|publisher=Cardoza Publishing|year=2012|isbn=978-1-58042-502-5}}</ref> It ranks below three of a kind and above one pair.<ref name=":12" />
Each two pair is ranked first by the rank of its higher-ranking pair, then by the rank of its lower-ranking pair, and finally by the rank of its kicker. For example, {{cards|boldface=no|10d|10s|2s|2c|Kc}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|5c|5s|4d|4h|10h}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|5c|5s|3c|3d|Qs}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|5c|5s|3c|3d|Js}}. Two pair hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|Kd|Ks|7d|7h|8h}} and {{cards|boldface=no|Kc|Ks|7c|7h|8c}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />{{clear}}
===One pair=== {{anchor|One pair}}
{{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|spade|10|60px}} {{card|heart|10|60px}} {{card|spade|8|60px}} {{card|heart|7|60px}} {{card|club|4|60px}}}} | caption = One pair, tens }}
'''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 {{cards|boldface=no|4h|4s|ks|td|5s}} ("one pair, fours" or a "pair of fours"). It ranks below two pair and above high card.<ref name=":12" />
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, {{cards|boldface=no|9c|9d|Qs|Jh|5h}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|6d|6h|Ks|7h|4c}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|6d|6h|Qh|Js|2c}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|6d|6h|Qs|8c|7d}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|6d|6h|Qd|8h|3s}}. One-pair hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|8s|8d|10h|6c|5s}} and {{cards|boldface=no|8h|8c|10c|6s|5c}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />{{clear}}
===High card=== {{anchor|High card}} {{redirect|High card|the franchise|High Card{{!}}''High Card''}} {{ Image frame | content = {{nowrap|{{card|diamond|K|60px}} {{card|diamond|Q|60px}} {{card|spade|7|60px}} {{card|spade|4|60px}} {{card|heart|3|60px}}}} | caption = High card, king }}
'''High card''', also known as '''no pair''' or simply ''nothing'', is a hand that does not fall into any other category, such as {{cards|boldface=no|kh|jh|8c|7d|4s}} ("high card, king" or "king-jack-high" or "king-high").<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Poker Tips that Pay|last=Gelling|first=Jonathan|publisher=Play to Pay Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-0-9840822-9-2|pages=333}}</ref> It ranks below one pair.<ref name=":12" /> Note that under ace-to-five low rules, straights, flushes and straight flushes are not possible, so such hands are instead high card hands.<ref name=":8" />
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, {{cards|boldface=no|Ks|6c|5h|3d|2c}} ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Qs|Jd|6c|5h|3c}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Qs|10d|8c|7d|4s}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Qh|10h|7c|6h|4s}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Qc|10c|7d|5c|4d}}, which ranks higher than {{cards|boldface=no|Qh|10d|7s|5s|2h}}. High card hands that differ by suit alone, such as {{cards|boldface=no|10c|8s|7s|6h|4d}} and {{cards|boldface=no|10d|8d|7s|6c|4c}}, are of equal rank.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />
Under deuce-to-seven low rules, a seven-five-high hand, such as {{cards|boldface=no|7s|5c|4d|3d|2c}}, is the best possible hand.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book|title=Serious Poker|last=Kimberg|first=Daniel|publisher=ConJelCo LLC|year=2002|isbn=1-886070-16-4|pages=229–277}}</ref> Under ace-to-six low rules, where aces have the lowest rank, a six-four-high hand, such as {{cards|boldface=no|6c|4s|3h|2h|ad}}, is the best possible hand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wsop.com/poker-games/lowball/how-to-play/|title=WSOP {{!}} How To Play {{!}} How To Play Lowball Poker|website=www.wsop.com|access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref> 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 {{cards|boldface=no|5c|4s|3h|2h|ad}} or {{cards|boldface=no|5s|4s|3s|2s|as}}, commonly known as a ''bicycle'' or ''wheel'', is the best possible hand.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":0" />{{clear}}
==See also== {{Portal|Games}} * Glossary of poker terms * List of playing-card nicknames * Non-standard poker hand * Poker probability * Yahtzee
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{commons category-inline|Poker hands}}
{{Poker}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poker hands}} Category:Poker hands Category:Gaming-related lists