However, statisticians and math wizards have used complex algorithms and simulations to find theoretically sound approaches to poker. To many, the game was purely about deception, either by creating it or reading it. Players would play the opponent, not the cards. The poker equity calculator will tell you what the odds are that you'll eventually obtain a given hand, given the cards you've been dealt initially.For decades, poker was a game played based on instincts. Ties are broken as with flushes - first, compare the two high cards, then the two next highest ranks, etc. High card: When no other hand can be formed, it's called a 'high card', which refers to the best-ranked card in that hand. Ties are broken by this pair's rank and then by the highest remaining card. Pair ('one pair'): Only one pair of faces. Ties are broken by the best pair's rank, then the second-best pair's rank, then by the highest remaining cards in order. Ties are broken by those three cards' rank, and then by the highest remaining cards in order. Three of a kind: Three cards with the same face.

The highest card in the straight breaks ties.

Straight: Five cards in sequential order, but not of one suit. Ties are broken by comparing the two highest cards, then the two second-highest cards, etc. Ties are broken by the triple's rank, then by the pair's rank.įlush: Five cards of the same suit, but with no discernible order. The quadruple-card's rank breaks ties.įull house: One triple and one pair. An ace-high straight flush (i.e., A, K, Q, J, and 10, all of the same suit) is famously called a royal flush and is the best possible hand.įour of a kind: Four cards of the same rank and a remaining card of any rank. Straight flush: Five cards of sequential ranks of the same suit. Aces are usually ranked highest but can form part of low sequences too (acting as a '1' instead) - we'd count both A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A as straights, but the former is 5-high, and the latter is ace-high. When multiple hands of the highest rank are present, the rank of the individual cards breaks these ties. So, here they are, described and ranked from best to worst below. To make sense of our poker probability calculator's outputs and inner workings, we need to know the different hands you might find in poker.

How to calculate hand equity in poker