Royal Flush

A royal flush is the highest ranking poker hand. It is basically an ace high straight flush consisting of T-J-Q-K-A, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

A straight flush contains five consecutive cards of the same suit.  If two players have straight flush, the player with the highest ranking card of the straight flush is the winner.

Four of a Kind

Four of a kind is having four of the same card.  If two players share a four of a kind, the player with the higher ranking kicker wins the poker hand.

Full House

A full house consists of 3 of a kind of one card, and a pair of another.  The winner is determined by whoever holds the higher ranking set (3 of a kind).  If both players share the same set, the winner is the player with the higher pair. 

Flush

Any 5 cards of the same suite makes a flush.  The player holding the highest ranking card of a flush wins the poker hand.

Straight

A straight is any 5 consecutive cards.  An ace can serve as the start or end of a straight (A-5 or T-A).  The player with the higher ranking straight wins the hand. 

Three of a Kind

Three of a kind, commonly called trips or a set, is holding 3 of the same cards.  If 2 or more players share a three of a kind, the winner is determined by whoever holds the highest ranking kickers. 

Two Pair

2 sets of cards with the same rank makes two pair.  The winner is the player with the highest ranking pair.  If 2 players share the same 2 pairs, the one with the highest ranking kicker wins the hand.

Pair

Two cards with the same rank makes a pair.  The highest pair wins the hand.  If 2 players share the top pair, the winner is the player with the highest ranking kicker.

High Card

If no other hand is made, the player with the highest ranking card wins the hand. 

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Hi-Lo Games

In Hi-Lo games, the winner of the hand is determined by whoever has the highest ranking hand, and lowest.

Low Hand

A low hand is any hand containing 5 different cards less than or equal to 8.  Straights and flushes do not count against a low hand. 

Pots in these poker games are split between the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand.  If there is no low hand, the player with the highest hand wins the entire pot.  If more than 1 player shares the high or low hands, that half of the pot is split between the two players.  It is possible to hold both the High and Low hands.