Poker Gaming Basics

Most poker games are played with a standard 52-card deck. The cards are ranked according to the value of the number on the card or the value of the face. The ranking, from highest to lowest, goes as such: Ace (A), King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The ace can also be used to complete a low straight; A, 2, 3, 4, 5. As well as numbers and faces, there are 4 different types of suits that are used to determine the value of a poker hand. These are ♠ (Spades), ♣ (Clubs), ♦ (Diamonds), ♥ (Hearts).

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Poker hands are valued based on their five-card ranking. These rankings are detailed below: (1 equals the best)

Poker Hand Rankings

1. Royal Flush : A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit. Example: 10♠, J♠, Q♠, K♠, A♠
2. Straight Flush : Five cards of the same suit in sequence. Example: 4♦, 5♦, 6♦, 7♦, 8♦
3. Four of a Kind : Four cards of the same rank. Example: 7♠, 7♣, 7♦, 7♥
4. Full House : Three of a kind plus a pair. Example: 3♦, 3♠, 3♣, K♠, K♥
5. Flush : Five cards of the same suit. Example: 3♥, 7♥, 10♥, Q♥, A♥
6. Straight : Five cards in sequence. Example: 5♣, 6♦, 7♣, 8♥, 9♠
7. Three of a Kind : Three cards of the same rank. Example: J♥, J♠, J♦
8. Two Pair : Two pairs of different rank. Example: 5♥, 5♠, 9♣, 9♠
9. One Pair : Two cards of the same rank. Example: A♠, A♦

Tiebreaker Rules

If two hands are tied in rank, the following rules apply:

1. If both have straight flushes, flushes, or straights, the highest card that is part of the hand determines the winning hand. If the highest card still results in a tie then the next highest card will determine the winner. And so on...
2. If both have a full house, then the highest 3 of a kind will determine the winner.
3. If both have three of a kind the highest ranking three of a kind will win.
4. The highest-ranking pair in the hand will decide two hands with two pairs. If this still results in a tie then the remaining pairs will be compared and the highest-ranking pair will then decide the winner.
5. If both have a single pair then the highest-ranking pair will win. If this is also a tie then the next highest-ranking single card will determine the winner. If this still results in a tie then the next highest single ranking card will determine the winner. And so on...
6. Two hands with no pairs, flushes, or straights are compared and the card with the highest-ranking single card will be determined the winner. If this still yields no winner then the next highest card will determine the winner. And so on...

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