Basics of Poker and Poker Hands

Most poker games inside of our casinos 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 which are used to determine the value of a poker hand. These are: Spades (S), Clubs (C), Diamonds (D), Hearts (H).

Poker hands are valued based on their five card ranking. These rankings are detailed below (a rank of 1 equals the best):
 
 
Rank
Hand Name
Description of hand
Example
1
Royal Flush
A, K, Q, J, 10 of same suit
10S, JS, QS, KS, AS
2
Straight Flush
Five cards of same suit in sequence
4D, 5D, 6D, 7D, 8D
3
4 of a kind
Four cards of the same rank
7S, 7C, 7D, 7H
4
Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair
3D, 3S, 3C, KS, KH
5
Flush
Five cards of the same suit
3H, 7H, 10H, QH, AH
6
Straight
Five cards in sequence
5C, 6D, 7C, 8H, 9S
7
3 of a kind
Three cards of the same rank
JH, JS, JD
8
2 Pair
Two pairs of different rank
5H, 5S, 9C, 9S
9
1 Pair
Two cards of the same rank
AS, AD

Tie Hands

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

1. If two players 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 players have a full house, then the highest 3 of a kind will determine the winner.

3. If both players have three of a kind, the highest-ranking three of a kind will be determined the winner.

4. The highest-ranking pair in the hand will decide two hands with two pair. If this still results in a tie, then the remaining pairs will be compared and the highest-ranking pair will then determine the winner.

5. If both players 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 be determined the winner. And so on...

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