Ranking of Hands

At the showdown, players construct hands of five cards. These hands are compared using a standard ranking system, and the player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. The ranking of the hands from the highest ot the lowest goes as follows:

Straight Flush - five consecutive cards of the same suit. An Ace-high straight flush is called a royal flush and is the best possible hand in Texas Hold’em. If two players have a straight flush, the one with the highest cards wins.

Four of a kind - four cards of the same rank, plus an unrelated fifth card that has no bearing on the hand’s value. If two players have four of a kind, then the one with the highest four of a kind wins. If they have the same, then the player with the highest fifth card wins.

Full House – three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. If two players have a full house, then the one with the highest three of a kind wins. If they have the same one, then the pair counts.

Flush - five cards of the same suit. The cards are not in sequence, and the suit has no bearing on the rank. If two players have a flush, then the one with the highest cards wins.

Straight - five consecutive cards, not all of the same suit. If two players have a straight, the one with the highest cards wins.

Three of a kind - three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards. If two players have the same three of a kind, then the other cards, or both cards, determine the winner.

Two pairs – two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and one unrelated card. If two players have two pairs, the rank of the higher pair determines the winner. If they have the same higher pair, then the lower one counts. If it is also the same, then the fifth card counts.

Pair - two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards. If two players have the same pair, then the one with the highest side cards wins.

High card – five unrelated cards. If there are two players at the showdown who don't have a pair, or better, then the one with the highest cards wins.