all of the same suit. Two such hands are compared by their high card in the same way as are
straights. The low ace rule also applies: 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ A♦ is a 5-high straight flush (also known as a
"steel wheel"). An ace-high straight flush such as A♣ K♣ Q♣ J♣ 10♣ is called a royal flush, and is
Examples:
• 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ 4♥ 3♥ beats 5♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠ A♠
• J♣ 10♣ 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ ties J♦ 10♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦
Four of a kind
Four of a kind is a poker hand such as 9♣ 9♠ 9♦ 9♥ J♥, which contains four cards of one rank, and
an unmatched card. It is also called quads. It ranks above a full house and below a straight flush.
Higher ranking four of a kinds defeat lower ranking ones. Between two equal sets of four of a
kinds, the kicker determines the winner.
Examples:
• 10♣ 10♦ 10♥ 10♠ 5♦ ("four tens" or "quad tens") defeats 6♦ 6♥ 6♠ 6♣ K♠ ("four sixes")
• 10♣ 10♦ 10♥ 10♠ Q♣ ("four tens, queen kicker") defeats 10♣ 10♦ 10♥ 10♠ 5♦ ("four tens
with a five")
Full house
A full house, also known as a boat or a full boat, is a poker hand such as 3♣ 3♠ 3♦ 6♣ 6♥, which
contains three matching cards of one rank, plus two matching cards of another rank. It ranks
above a flush and below four of a kind. Between two full houses, the one with the higher ranking
set of three wins. If two have the same set of three (possible in wild card and community card
games), the hand with the higher pair wins. Full houses are described by the three of a kind (e.g.,
KKK) and pair (e.g., 99), as in "Kings full of nines" or simply "Kings full".
Examples:
• 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 4♠ 4♦ ("tens full") defeats 9♥ 9♣ 9♠ A♥ A♣ ("nines full")
• K♠ K♣ K♥ 3♦ 3♠ defeats 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 4♠ 4♦
• Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 8♥ 8♣ ("queens full of eights" or "full house, queens over eights") defeats
Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 5♠ 5♥ ("queens full of fives")
Flush
in rank sequence. It ranks above a straight and below a full house. Two flushes are compared as if
they were high card hands. In other words, the highest ranking card of each is compared to
determine the winner; if both have the same high card, then the second-highest ranking card is
compared, etc. The suits have no value: two flushes with the same five ranks of cards are tied.
Flushes are described by the highest card, as in "queen-high flush".
Examples:
• A♥ Q♥ 10♥ 5♥ 3♥ ("ace-high flush") defeats K♠ Q♠ J♠ 9♠ 6♠ ("king-high flush")
• A♦ K♦ 7♦ 6♦ 2♦ ("flush, ace-king high") defeats A♥ Q♥ 10♥ 5♥ 3♥ ("flush, ace-queen high")
• Q♥ 10♥ 9♥ 5♥ 2♥ ("heart flush") ties Q♠ 10♠ 9♠ 5♠ 2♠ ("spade flush")
Straight
A straight is a poker hand such as Q♣ J♠ 10♠ 9♥ 8♥, which contains five cards of sequential rank,
of varying suits. It ranks above three of a kind and below a flush. Two straights are ranked by
comparing the high card of each. Two straights with the same high card are of equal value, and
split any winnings (straights are the most commonly tied hands in poker, especially in community
card poker games). Straights are described by the highest card, as in "queen-high straight" or
"straight to the queen".
Examples:
• 8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 5♥ 4♠ ("eight-high straight") defeats 6♦ 5♠ 4♦ 3♥ 2♣ ("six-high straight")
• 8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 5♥ 4♠ ties 8♥ 7♦ 6♣ 5♣ 4♥
A hand such as A♣ K♣ Q♦ J♠ 10♠ is an ace-high straight, and ranks above a king-high straight
such as K♥ Q♠ J♥ 10♥ 9♦. But the ace may also be played as a 1-spot in a hand such as 5♠ 4♦ 3♦
2♠ A♣, called a wheel or five-high straight, which ranks below the six-high straight 6♠ 5♣ 4♣ 3♥
2♥. The ace may not "wrap around", or play both high and low in the same hand: 3♣ 2♦ A♠ K♠
Q♣ is not a straight, but just ace-high no pair.
Three of a kind
Three of a kind is a poker hand such as 2♦ 2♠ 2♥ K♠ 6♠, which contains three cards of the same
rank, plus two unmatched cards. It ranks above two pair and below a straight. Higher ranking
three of a kind defeat lower ranking three of a kinds. If two hands have the same rank three of a
kind (possible in games with wild cards or community cards), the kickers are compared to break the
tie.
Examples:
• 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ 5♠ 3♣ ("three eights") defeats 5♣ 5♥ 5♦ Q♦ 10♣ ("three fives")
• 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ A♣ 2♦ ("three eights, ace kicker") defeats 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ 5♠ 3♣ ("three eights, five
kicker")
Two pair
A poker hand such as J♥ J♣ 4♣ 4♠ 9♠, which contains two cards of the same rank, plus two cards
of another rank (that match each other but not the first pair), plus one unmatched card, is called
two pair. It ranks above one pair and below three of a kind. Between two hands containing two
pair, the higher ranking pair of each is first compared, and the higher pair wins. If both have the
same top pair, then the second pair of each is compared. Finally, if both hands have the same two
pairs, the kicker determines the winner. Two pair are described by the higher pair (e.g., KK) and the
lower pair (e.g., 99), as in "Kings over nines", "Kings and nines" or simply "Kings up".
Examples:
• K♥ K♦ 2♣ 2♦ J♥ ("kings up") defeats J♦ J♠ 10♠ 10♣ 9♠ ("jacks up")
• 9♣ 9♦ 7♦ 7♠ 6♥ ("nines and sevens") defeats 9♥ 9♠ 5♥ 5♦ K♣ ("nines and fives")
• 4♠ 4♣ 3♠ 3♥ K♦ ("fours and treys, king kicker") defeats 4♥ 4♦ 3♦ 3♣ 10♠
("fours and threes with a ten")
One pair
One pair is a poker hand such as 4♥ 4♠ K♠ 10♦ 5♠, which contains two cards of the same rank,
plus three unmatched cards. It ranks above any high card hand, but below all other poker hands.
Higher ranking pairs defeat lower ranking pairs. If two hands have the same rank of pair, the non-
paired cards in each hand (the kickers) are compared to determine the winner.
Examples:
• 10♣ 10♠ 6♠ 4♥ 2♥ ("pair of tens") defeats 9♥ 9♣ A♥ Q♦ 10♦ ("pair of nines")
• 10♥ 10♦ J♦ 3♥ 2♣ ("tens with jack kicker") defeats 10♣ 10♠ 6♠ 4♥ 2♥
• 2♦ 2♥ 8♠ 5♣ 4♣ ("deuces, eight-five-four") defeats 2♣ 2♠ 8♣ 5♥ 3♥ ("deuces, eight-five-
three")
High card
A no-pair or high-card hand is a poker hand such as K♥ J♣ 8♣ 7♦ 3♠, in which no two cards have
the same rank, the five cards are not in sequence, and the five cards are not all the same suit. It can
also be referred to as "nothing" or "garbage," and many other derogatory terms. It ranks below all
other poker hands. Two such hands are ranked by comparing the highest ranking card; if those are
equal, then the next highest ranking card; if those are equal, then the third highest ranking card,
etc. No-pair hands are described by the one or two highest cards in the hand, such as "king high" or
"ace-queen high", or by as many cards as are necessary to break a tie.
Examples:
• A♦ 10♦ 9♠ 5♣ 4♣ ("ace high") defeats K♣ Q♦ J♣ 8♥ 7♥ ("king high")
• A♣ Q♣ 7♦ 5♥ 2♣ ("ace-queen") defeats A♦ 10♦ 9♠ 5♣ 4♣ ("ace-ten")
• 7♠ 6♣ 5♣ 4♦ 2♥ ("seven-six-five-four") defeats 7♣ 6♦ 5♦ 3♥ 2♣ ("seven-six-five-three")
straights. The low ace rule also applies: 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ A♦ is a 5-high straight flush (also known as a
"steel wheel"). An ace-high straight flush such as A♣ K♣ Q♣ J♣ 10♣ is called a royal flush, and is
Examples:
• 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ 4♥ 3♥ beats 5♠ 4♠ 3♠ 2♠ A♠
• J♣ 10♣ 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ ties J♦ 10♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦
Four of a kind
Four of a kind is a poker hand such as 9♣ 9♠ 9♦ 9♥ J♥, which contains four cards of one rank, and
an unmatched card. It is also called quads. It ranks above a full house and below a straight flush.
Higher ranking four of a kinds defeat lower ranking ones. Between two equal sets of four of a
kinds, the kicker determines the winner.
Examples:
• 10♣ 10♦ 10♥ 10♠ 5♦ ("four tens" or "quad tens") defeats 6♦ 6♥ 6♠ 6♣ K♠ ("four sixes")
• 10♣ 10♦ 10♥ 10♠ Q♣ ("four tens, queen kicker") defeats 10♣ 10♦ 10♥ 10♠ 5♦ ("four tens
with a five")
Full house
A full house, also known as a boat or a full boat, is a poker hand such as 3♣ 3♠ 3♦ 6♣ 6♥, which
contains three matching cards of one rank, plus two matching cards of another rank. It ranks
above a flush and below four of a kind. Between two full houses, the one with the higher ranking
set of three wins. If two have the same set of three (possible in wild card and community card
games), the hand with the higher pair wins. Full houses are described by the three of a kind (e.g.,
KKK) and pair (e.g., 99), as in "Kings full of nines" or simply "Kings full".
Examples:
• 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 4♠ 4♦ ("tens full") defeats 9♥ 9♣ 9♠ A♥ A♣ ("nines full")
• K♠ K♣ K♥ 3♦ 3♠ defeats 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 4♠ 4♦
• Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 8♥ 8♣ ("queens full of eights" or "full house, queens over eights") defeats
Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 5♠ 5♥ ("queens full of fives")
Flush
in rank sequence. It ranks above a straight and below a full house. Two flushes are compared as if
they were high card hands. In other words, the highest ranking card of each is compared to
determine the winner; if both have the same high card, then the second-highest ranking card is
compared, etc. The suits have no value: two flushes with the same five ranks of cards are tied.
Flushes are described by the highest card, as in "queen-high flush".
Examples:
• A♥ Q♥ 10♥ 5♥ 3♥ ("ace-high flush") defeats K♠ Q♠ J♠ 9♠ 6♠ ("king-high flush")
• A♦ K♦ 7♦ 6♦ 2♦ ("flush, ace-king high") defeats A♥ Q♥ 10♥ 5♥ 3♥ ("flush, ace-queen high")
• Q♥ 10♥ 9♥ 5♥ 2♥ ("heart flush") ties Q♠ 10♠ 9♠ 5♠ 2♠ ("spade flush")
Straight
A straight is a poker hand such as Q♣ J♠ 10♠ 9♥ 8♥, which contains five cards of sequential rank,
of varying suits. It ranks above three of a kind and below a flush. Two straights are ranked by
comparing the high card of each. Two straights with the same high card are of equal value, and
split any winnings (straights are the most commonly tied hands in poker, especially in community
card poker games). Straights are described by the highest card, as in "queen-high straight" or
"straight to the queen".
Examples:
• 8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 5♥ 4♠ ("eight-high straight") defeats 6♦ 5♠ 4♦ 3♥ 2♣ ("six-high straight")
• 8♠ 7♠ 6♥ 5♥ 4♠ ties 8♥ 7♦ 6♣ 5♣ 4♥
A hand such as A♣ K♣ Q♦ J♠ 10♠ is an ace-high straight, and ranks above a king-high straight
such as K♥ Q♠ J♥ 10♥ 9♦. But the ace may also be played as a 1-spot in a hand such as 5♠ 4♦ 3♦
2♠ A♣, called a wheel or five-high straight, which ranks below the six-high straight 6♠ 5♣ 4♣ 3♥
2♥. The ace may not "wrap around", or play both high and low in the same hand: 3♣ 2♦ A♠ K♠
Q♣ is not a straight, but just ace-high no pair.
Three of a kind
Three of a kind is a poker hand such as 2♦ 2♠ 2♥ K♠ 6♠, which contains three cards of the same
rank, plus two unmatched cards. It ranks above two pair and below a straight. Higher ranking
three of a kind defeat lower ranking three of a kinds. If two hands have the same rank three of a
kind (possible in games with wild cards or community cards), the kickers are compared to break the
tie.
Examples:
• 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ 5♠ 3♣ ("three eights") defeats 5♣ 5♥ 5♦ Q♦ 10♣ ("three fives")
• 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ A♣ 2♦ ("three eights, ace kicker") defeats 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ 5♠ 3♣ ("three eights, five
kicker")
Two pair
A poker hand such as J♥ J♣ 4♣ 4♠ 9♠, which contains two cards of the same rank, plus two cards
of another rank (that match each other but not the first pair), plus one unmatched card, is called
two pair. It ranks above one pair and below three of a kind. Between two hands containing two
pair, the higher ranking pair of each is first compared, and the higher pair wins. If both have the
same top pair, then the second pair of each is compared. Finally, if both hands have the same two
pairs, the kicker determines the winner. Two pair are described by the higher pair (e.g., KK) and the
lower pair (e.g., 99), as in "Kings over nines", "Kings and nines" or simply "Kings up".
Examples:
• K♥ K♦ 2♣ 2♦ J♥ ("kings up") defeats J♦ J♠ 10♠ 10♣ 9♠ ("jacks up")
• 9♣ 9♦ 7♦ 7♠ 6♥ ("nines and sevens") defeats 9♥ 9♠ 5♥ 5♦ K♣ ("nines and fives")
• 4♠ 4♣ 3♠ 3♥ K♦ ("fours and treys, king kicker") defeats 4♥ 4♦ 3♦ 3♣ 10♠
("fours and threes with a ten")
One pair
One pair is a poker hand such as 4♥ 4♠ K♠ 10♦ 5♠, which contains two cards of the same rank,
plus three unmatched cards. It ranks above any high card hand, but below all other poker hands.
Higher ranking pairs defeat lower ranking pairs. If two hands have the same rank of pair, the non-
paired cards in each hand (the kickers) are compared to determine the winner.
Examples:
• 10♣ 10♠ 6♠ 4♥ 2♥ ("pair of tens") defeats 9♥ 9♣ A♥ Q♦ 10♦ ("pair of nines")
• 10♥ 10♦ J♦ 3♥ 2♣ ("tens with jack kicker") defeats 10♣ 10♠ 6♠ 4♥ 2♥
• 2♦ 2♥ 8♠ 5♣ 4♣ ("deuces, eight-five-four") defeats 2♣ 2♠ 8♣ 5♥ 3♥ ("deuces, eight-five-
three")
High card
A no-pair or high-card hand is a poker hand such as K♥ J♣ 8♣ 7♦ 3♠, in which no two cards have
the same rank, the five cards are not in sequence, and the five cards are not all the same suit. It can
also be referred to as "nothing" or "garbage," and many other derogatory terms. It ranks below all
other poker hands. Two such hands are ranked by comparing the highest ranking card; if those are
equal, then the next highest ranking card; if those are equal, then the third highest ranking card,
etc. No-pair hands are described by the one or two highest cards in the hand, such as "king high" or
"ace-queen high", or by as many cards as are necessary to break a tie.
Examples:
• A♦ 10♦ 9♠ 5♣ 4♣ ("ace high") defeats K♣ Q♦ J♣ 8♥ 7♥ ("king high")
• A♣ Q♣ 7♦ 5♥ 2♣ ("ace-queen") defeats A♦ 10♦ 9♠ 5♣ 4♣ ("ace-ten")
• 7♠ 6♣ 5♣ 4♦ 2♥ ("seven-six-five-four") defeats 7♣ 6♦ 5♦ 3♥ 2♣ ("seven-six-five-three")
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