first, hand rankings.
1. Royal Flush
An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten in the same suit. E.g.,
Ad-Kd-Qd-Jd-10d.
2. Straight Flush
Five card in sequence in the same suit. E.g., 8s-7s-6s-5s-4s. The
ace can play as low to make 5c-4c-3c-2c-Ac, the lowest straight
flush.
3. Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank, accompanied by a "kicker". E.g.,
Kc-Ks-Kd-Kh-3d. Ranked by the four matched cards, so 5-5-5-5-3
would beat 4-4-4-4-K.
4. Full House
Three of a Kind combined with a Pair. E.g., 9c-9s-9h-5s-5h. Ranked
by the three of a kind, so 4-4-4-2-2 would beat 3-3-3-A-A
5. Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. Ranked by the
top card, and then by the next card, so that Ah-Jh-9h-4h-2h beats
As-Js-8s-7s-6s. Suits are not used to break ties.
6. Straight
Five cards in sequence, but of different suits. E.g.,
9h-10c-Jh-Qd-Ks. The Ace can be either high or low, e.g.,
A-K-Q-J-10 and 5-4-3-2-A. "Around the corner" straights like
3-2-A-K-Q are not allowed.
7. Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank and and two unrelated kickers. E.g.,
7s-7h-7c-Qd-3h. Ranked by the three matched cards and then the
kickers, so Q-Q-Q-8-4 would beat J-J-J-A-K, but Q-Q-Q-A-K beats
Q-Q-Q-A-7.
8. Two Pair
Two separate pairs. E.g., Jc-Jd-4c-4d-As. Two cards of one rank,
two cards of another rank and a kicker of a third rank, such as
10-10-4-4-9. Ranked by the top pair, then the bottom pair and
finally the kicker, so that K-K-4-4-9 beats all of these:
Q-Q-J-J-A, K-K-2-2-Q, and K-K-4-4-5.
9. Pair
Two cards of the same rank, accompanied by three kickers of
different ranks, such as As-Ad-9c-3s-2d. Ranked by the pair,
followed by each kicker in turn, so A-A-K-5-3 would beat
A-A-K-5-2.
10. High Card
If none of the above combinations can be made, the hand with the
highest card(s) wins.
Ties: In the case of two or more players having identical winning
hands, then the pot would be divided between them.
