Determining the Winner

In Texas Hold’em regular hand ranks are applied, like those used in basic draw poker, such as a two pair beats a pair, three of a kind beats two pair, a straight beats three of a kind, etc.  Therefore, a lower ranked hand is always defeated by a higher ranked hand.  For instance the ranking of Poker hands from highest to lowest are as follows:

 

  •   Royal flush – The ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 of one suit.
  •   Straight flush – A sequence of five cards belonging to the same suit (e.g. 6-7-8-9-10 of spades).
  •   Four of a kind – Four cards of the same rank (e.g. k-k-k-k).
  •   Full house – Three of a kind, and a pair (e.g. 3-3-3-2-2).
  •   Flush – Five cards of the same suit with no sequence (e.g. 3-5-8-J-k of hearts).
  •   Straight – Five cards in sequence, regardless of suit (e.g. 2-3 of clubs – 4-5 of hearts – 6 of diamonds)
  •   Three of a kind (e.g.4-4-4)
  •   Two pair (e.g. A- A -5-5)
  •   Pair (e.g. 6-6)
  •   High Card – If two people have nothing, the person with the highest ranking card wins.

 

If two players have the same hand (except in the case of all 5 community cards), it is always the person with the highest number rank or card that wins.