Winning Hands

Royal Flush - The highest straight flush, five cards in sequence with all five cards of the same suit, having an ace as the high card. Example: T J Q K A.

Straight Flush - A straight (five cards in sequence) with all five cards of the same suit.
Example: 8 7 6 5 4.

Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same rank. Also known as quads. Example: K K K K 7, a hand called four kings or quad kings. In a contest among players holding four of a kind, the hand with the highest rank wins. For example, Q Q Q Q 6 beats 9 9 9 9 A.

Full House - Any three cards of one rank plus any two cards of another rank. Example: J J J 6 6, a hand called jacks full of sixes or simply jacks full. In a contest among players holding full houses, the hand with the highest three of a kind wins. For example, 5 5 5 3 3 beats 4 4 4 A A.

Flush - Five cards of the same suit. Example: A J 9 7 2. In a contest among players holding flushes, the hand with the highest top one or more cards wins. When the top cards are tied, the next card is compared; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is compared; and so on.
For example, A 9 8 7 6 beats K Q J 9 8, and 10 9 8 4 2 beats 10 9 7 6 5.

Straight - Five consecutive cards. An ace can be high or low. Examples: A K Q J 10, a hand known as an ace-high straight; A 2 3 4 5, a hand known as a 5-high straight. In a contest among players holding straights, the hand with the highest top card wins. For example, 10 9 8 7 6 beats 8 7 6 5 4.

Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same rank. Also known as trips or, especially in hold'em, a set.
Example: A A A K 2. In a contest among players holding three of a kind, the hand with the highest rank wins. For example, 10 10 10 3 2 beats 9 9 9 A K.

Two Pair - Two cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank. Example: A A K K 4, a hand called aces and kings or simply aces up. In a contest among players holding two pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. For example, A A 2 2 3 beats K K Q Q J. In a contest among players holding the same top pair, the hand with the highest second pair wins. For example, 10 10 9 9 4 beats 10 10 8 8 A. In a contest among players holding the same two pairs, the hand with the highest side card (also known as kicker) wins. For example, J J 9 9 4 beats J J 9 9 3.

One Pair - Two cards of the same rank. Example: 2 2 A K Q, a hand called variously a pair of twos, a pair of deuces, twos, or deuces. In a contest among players holding one pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. For example, A A 5 4 3 beats K K Q J 9. In a contest among players holding the same pair, the hand with the highest one or more side cards wins. For example, J J 9 8 4 beats J J 9 8 3.

No Pair - None of the above. Example: A K 9 3 2, a hand sometimes called ace high or ace-king high. If no hand is better at the showdown, the hand topped by the highest one or more cards wins. When the top cards are tied, the next card is compared; when the top two cards are tied, the third card is compared; and so on. For example, A 8 6 4 2 beats K Q J 10 8, and K Q J 9 4 beats K Q J 9 2.