TABLE 1: The ranking of poker hands
|
Combinations |
Probability |
Description |
1st Straight flush |
40 |
1 in 64,974 |
Five cards of the same suit in sequence flushes, that with the highest-ranking top card wins. A tie is possible. |
2nd Four of kind |
624 |
1 in 4,165 |
Four cards of the same rank, with an odd fifth card. Between two similar hands, that with the higher-ranking four cards wins. There cannot be a tie, so the fifth card is of no consequence. |
3rd Full house |
3,744 |
1 in 694 |
Three cards of one rank (i.e. a triple) with two of another (i.e. pair). Between two full houses, the one with the higher-ranking set of three wins. A tie is impossible. |
4th Flush |
5,108 |
1 in 509 |
Five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence. Between flushes, the one containing the highest, and so on. Ties are possible. |
5th Straight |
10,200 |
1 in 255 |
Five cards in sequence, but not of the same suit. Between straights, that one containing the highest card at the top of the sequence wins. Note that A, K, Q, J, 10 therefore beats 5, 4, 3, 2, a, where the Ace counts low. Ties are possible. |
6th three of kinds |
54,912 |
1 in 47 |
Three cards of the same rank with two unmatching cards. Between similar hands, that with the highest-ranking three wins. Ties are impossible. |
7th two pairs |
123,552 |
1 in 21 |
Two cards of one rank, two of another and an odd card. Between similar hands, that with the highest –ranking pair wins, if equal the highest-ranking pair wins, if equal the odd card. Ties are possible. |
8th One pair |
1,098,240 |
1 in 2.3665 |
Two cards of one rank with three other unmatching cards. Between similar hands, the highest-ranking pair wins, if equal the highest –ranking odd card, if equal the highest ranking, and so on. Ties are possible. |
9th Nothing |
1,302,540 |
1 in 1.9953 |
This hand lacks an accepted name, and is sometimes called a ‘no-pair’ hand or a ‘high-card’ hand. Hands of this type are ranked by the highest-ranked card they contain, if equal by the second card and so on. Ties are possible. |
What happens if..?
- The cards in a flush are exactly the same value as each other, e.g. the hands are tires.
♥ 10, 8,7,6,3 ♣ 10, 8,7,6,3
In this situation the pot is split between the two players.
- The cards of the two pairs are exactly the same, e.g.
♥ K, ♦ K, ♣ 7, ♠ 7 ♠ K, ♣ K, ♦ 7 , ♥ 7