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Royal Flush
Five cards in a row, 10 through ace, all in the same suit. A royal flush is actually the highest possible straight flush. This is the best hand you can get in a game without wild cards. Since suits have no bearing in poker, two players holding royal flushes would tie. A royal flush ranks above any other straight flush. The illustration shows a royal flush in spades.
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Straight Flush
Five cards of the same suit in consecutive numerical order. (An ace highstraight flush, as 10d Jd Qd Kd AD, is given the special name royal flush.) A straight flush ranks above four of a kind. The illustration shows a five-high straight flush.
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Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank. Four of a kind ranks above a full house andbelow a straight flush. The illustration shows four jacks with a deuce kicker(fifth card).
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Full House
Any three of one rank plus two of another. Often identified by the three of a kind. Three kings and two 3s is a full house, often known as kings full, and sometimes more specifically as kings full of 3s. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then the pair. So, for example, 4-4-4-2-2 beats 3-3-3-A-A. In community-card games such as hold'em and Omaha, morethan one player can have a full house containing the same three cards ofone rank. So, for example, A-A-A-K-K beats A-A-A-Q-Q. A full house ranks above a flush and below four of a kind. The illustration shows 7s full of 3s.
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Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. A flush is often specified by its top one or two cards. For example, Ah Kh 9h 4h 2h is called anace-king flush. (Five cards of the same suit in sequence constitutes a special hand known as a straight flush.) A flush ranks above a straight and below a full house. The illustration shows a queen-high diamond flush.
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Straight
Any five consecutive cards of mixed suits. The ace can be high or low.A-K-Q-J-T, an ace-high straight is the highest straight, and 5-4-3-2-A, a5-high straight, is the lowest straight. (Five cards of the same suit in sequence constitutes a special hand known as a straight flush.) A straight ranks above three of a Kind and below a flush. The illustration shows a 10-high straight.
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Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank, plus two other unrelated cards. The hand is often called trips or, in community-card games, a set. Three of a kindranks above two pair and below a straight. The illustration shows three 4s.
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Two Pair
Two of one rank, plus two of another rank, plus an unrelated card. Forexample, A-A-K-K-Q is two pair, known variously as two pair, aces and kings; aces up; aces over; aces over kings; aces and kings; aces and. Ifboth hands have the same high pair, the hand containing the higher second pair wins. For example, A-A-7-7-2 beats A-A-6-6-K. If both pairs tie, the high card wins. For example, A-A-7-7-J beats A-A-7-7-9. Two pair ranks between one pair and three of a kind. The illustration shows 8s and 5s.
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Pair
A hand containing two cards of the same rank, plus three other unmatched cards. When two players have the same pair, the highest side card or cards wins. For example, J-J-A-3-2 beats J-J-K-Q-9; 4-4-A-K-2 beats 4-4-A-Q-9; A-A-9-8-7 beats A-A-9-8-6. One pair is the second-lowest category of hand, coming between no pair and two pair. The illustration shows a pair of 9s.
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No Pair
A hand lower than one pair, usually named by its high card, as, for example, ace high. When two players both have the same high card, thehighest side card or cards wins. For example, K-Q-4-3-2 beats K-T-9-8-7; A-K-Q-J-9 beats A-K-Q-J-8. No pair is the lowest category of hand. The illustration shows a king-high hand.
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