In Holdem, there are no high or low suits. All suits are treated equally. In the event of a most ties, the winning hand is determined by the order of highest to lowest cards. If the cards are perfectly equal, then a tie is declared and the pot is split.
- Royal Flush
The cadillac of poker hands a Royal Flush is simply an A-high Straight Flush.
Straight Flush
Any straight with all five cards of the same suit. Where two players both have a straight flush, the higher straight flush wins.
Four Of A Kind
Any four cards of the same rank. If two players share the same Four of a Kind, the fifth card (kicker) will decide who wins the pot, the bigger card the better. Four of a Kind is also known as “quads”.
Full House
Any three cards of the same rank together with any two cards of the same rank. This example shows Aces full Kings which is the highest full house. Where two players both have full houses, the higher 3-of-a-kind wins. If two players have the same 3-of-a-kind, then the highest pair wins. The Full House is also known as a “boat”.
Flush
Any five cards of the same suit which are not consecutive. The highest card of the five makes out the rank of the flush. If two flushes have the same top card, then the flush with the higher 2nd-to-top card wins, and so on.
Straight
Any five consecutive cards of different suits. The ace counts as either a high or a low card. AKQJT is the highest straight, 5432A is the lowest straight (5432A is also called a “wheel”).
Three Of A Kind
Any three cards of the same rank. The higher Three of a Kind wins. If two hands have the same Three of a Kind, then the two kickers (unpaired cards) are used to break the tie. Three of a Kind is also known as “trips” and if you have a pocket pair in Texas Hold’em, and you form trips by the third card coming onto the board, this is known as a “set”.
Two Pair
Any two cards of the same rank together with another two cards of the same rank. The hand with the higher top pair wins. If the top pairs are equal, then the bottom pairs are used to break the tie. If those are also equal, then the kicker (unpaired card) is used to break the tie.
One Pair
Any two cards of the same rank. The hand with the higher pair wins. If the pairs are equal, then the kickers are used to break the tie, first by comparing the highest kicker, then the second highest kicker, and finally the lowest kicker.
High Card
Any hand that does not make up any of the above mentioned hands. If a hand does not fit in any other category, it is judged by high cards. Two hands are compared by taking the highest cards and comparing them. If those are equal, then the second highest are compared, and so on.
