POKER HANDS
ROYAL FLUSH
The highest Poker hand is called a Royal Flush. The Royal Flush is not a
separate hand in its own right but is the highest straight flush possible.
10 J Q K A
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
10 J Q K A
STRAIGHT FLUSH
A Straight Flush is five cards that are of the same suit and in sequence.
3 4 5 6 7
♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
3 4 5 6 7
An Ace is either high or low.
The Ace is low when placed with 2,3,4 and 5
The Ace is high when placed with 10,J,Q and K
If two straight flushes are in contention the hand with the highest card will
win. Remember, in Poker no suit will take precedence over another suit.
FOUR OF A KIND
Four of a Kind is the next highest hand and consist of four cards that have
the same face value and one unconnected card.
3 3 3 3 K
♣ ♦ ♠ ♥ ♠
3 3 3 3 K
The face value of the fifth card – the unconnected card is not taken into
consideration.
FULL HOUSE
The next highest hand is called a Full House. A Full House consists of three
of a kind and a pair.
A A A 2 2
♥ ♣ ♦ ♥ ♠
A A A 2 2
The value of the three cards determines the strength of the Full House: so,
555-99 would beat 444-22
FLUSH
Ranking below a Full House is the Flush. The Flush consists of five cards of
the same suit. The highest card determines the strength of the flush.
3 7 5 A Q
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
3 7 5 A Q
If the highest card in the player and dealers hand is identical then a count
down is required. A count down means the second highest card in each hand
is compared; if identical then the third highest card in each hand is
compared. This process is repeated until all the necessary cards have been
compared and a conclusion has been made.
STRAIGHT
A Straight consists of five cards in sequences of various suits.
4 5 6 7 8
♦ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♥
4 5 6 7 8
An Ace can be counted as high of low, E.g. A,2,3,4 or 10,J,Q,K,A.
Note a “Round the corner” straight, for example Q, K, A, 2, 3 is not
recognized at Sun International.
THREE OF A KIND
Three of a Kind consists of three cards of the same face value plus two
unconnected cards, e.g. 8, 8, 8 ,4, 5. Three of a kind is also known as
“Trips”.
5 5 5 2 9
♦ ♥ ♠5 5 5
♠ ♥ 2 9
In the situation where both a player and dealer have Three of a Kind the
highest three of a kind wins. The two unconnected cards are not taken into
consideration.
TWO PAIRS
Two different pairs and a fifth unconnected card e.g. A,A,10,10,4. If two
hands of Two Pairs compete then the highest pair is counted first then the
second pair.
J J 10 10 5
♦ ♠ ♥ ♠ ♣
J J 10 10 5
In the unlikely event of both parties being identical the fifth card will be
taken into consideration. Therefore A,A,10,10,5 will beat A,A,10,10,4.
PAIR
A Pair is two cards of the same face value, plus three unconnected cards.
3 3 8 7 2
♠ ♥ 3 3
♣ ♦ ♠
8 7 2
When two identical pairs compete then the other three unconnected
cards are taken into consideration highest to lowest e.g. Q,Q,10,8,5 beats
Q,Q,10,8,4.
