Poker games are very easy to learn however a player should have a general knowledge of the ranking of poker hands. This will give them and understanding of the winning hands and pay tables used for some of the bonus bets.

There are 52 cards in the pack, and the ranking of the individual cards, from high to low, is ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no ranking between the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal.

A poker hand consists of five cards. The categories of hand, from highest to lowest, are listed below. Any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category (so for example any three of a kind beats any two pairs). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better, as described in more detail below.

Five Card Poker Hand Values for High

Royal Flush : An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten in the same suit.


In the event of a tie : Two or more Royal Flushes split the pot.

Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence, of the same suit.


In the event of a tie : Highest rank at the top of the sequence wins.

Four of a Kind : Four cards of the same rank, and one side card.


In the event of a tie : Highest four of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same four of a kind, the highest fifth side card ("kicker") wins.

Full House : Three cards of the same rank, and two cards of a different, matching rank.


In the event of a tie: Highest three matching cards wins the pot. In community card games where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins.

Flush : Five cards of the same suit.


In the event of a tie : The player holding the highest ranked card wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest, and fifth-highest cards can be used to break the tie.

Straight: Five cards in sequence.


In the event of a tie : Highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins.

Note : The Ace may be used at the top or bottom of the sequence, and is the only card which can act in this manner.

Three of a kind : Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side cards.


In the event of a tie : Highest ranking three of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same three of a kind, the highest side card, and if necessary, the second-highest side card wins.

Two pair : Two cards of a matching rank, another two cards of a different matching rank, and one side card.


In the event of a tie : Highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have identical pairs, highest side card wins.

One pair : Two cards of a matching rank, and three unrelated side cards.


In the event of a tie : Highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest side card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest side card can be used to break the tie.

High card : Any hand that does not qualify under a category listed above.


In the event of a tie : Highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie.

Five Card Poker Hand Values for Low

Note that suits and sequences are irrelevant for low. A flush or straight does not "break" a low poker hand. Aces are the lowest card when considering a low.

Five High, or Whee : The Five, Four, Three, Deuce and Ace.


In the event of a tie : All Five-high hands split the pot.

Six High : Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being a Six.


In the event of a tie : The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. Thus 6, 4, 3, 2, A defeats 6, 5, 4, 2, A. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.

Seven High : Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being a Seven.


In the event of a tie : The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.

Eight High : Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being an Eight.


In the event of a tie: The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.

An Eight High is the weakest hand that qualifies for low in games where the pot is split between the best high and low hands.