Hand rank rulings

Hand rankings may seem straightforward, particularly if your've played a form of poker before. There are some finer points to the rules of each ranking that some players might not be sure about. We will explain and clarity a little more about each hand ranking before we move on:

1. Hand card

• In the absence of any of the other hands listed here you just play your highest card.
• If two players are in the same position, the one with the highest card wins. If the highest card is the same the next highest cards down is taken and so forth...

2. Pair

• A hand with two cards of the same rank, e.g. two fours, two Kings, two Aces etc.
• If two players both hold a pair, the highest pair wins.

3.Two Pair

• Two sets of pairs of the same rank, e.g. two Kings and Aces.
• If two people have a two pair, the hand with the highest pari wins, irrespective of the other cards. If the highest pair is the same the other/second pair decides.

4.Three of a kind (known as "trips")

• Three cards of the same face value.
• If two people have trips, the hand with the highest value wins.
• If two people have trips of equal value, the highest other/forth card in their hand is compared to find the winner. If the highest card is of the same value, the value of the remaining card is compared.

5. Straight

• A sequence of five consecutive cards of different suits, e.g. A-2-3-4-5 or 6-7-8-9-10.
• Ace can be used as either a high card or low card in a straight, but you cannot use it as both so Q-K-A-2-3, for example, is not allowed.

6. Flush

• Five cards of the same suit, e.g. five hearts, five spades.
• If two people have a flush the highest card determines the winner. If the highest card are equal then the second highest card is compared, and so forth.

7. Full House (known as "boat")

• Three of a kind and a pair in the same hand, e.g. three Kings and two Aces.
• If two players have a full house, the value of the three cards determines the winner. If the three cards are the same then the value of the pair decides.

8. Four of a kind (known as "quads")

• Four cards of the same value, e.g. four Kings.
• If two players have four of a kind the value of the four cards determines the winner.
• If two players have th same four cards the value of their remaining card 'kicker' determines the winner.

9. Straight flush

• Five consecutive cards of the same suit, e.g. 2-3-4-5-6 spades.
• If two people have a straight flush then the value of the highest card determines the winner.

10. Royal Flush

• The King of poker hands - a royal flush is simply a straight flush where the high card is an Ace, i.e. 10-J-Q-K-A of spades.