2.1.4 Showdown

When there is only one active player remaining in the game, that player wins the pot without having to reveal their cards. Otherwise, when the final round terminates normally, the game enters the showdown where all active players reveal their cards and the player with the strongest 5-card hand wins the pot. In the case of a tie, the pot is split evenly.

Note that individual cards are ranked from Deuce - the lowest - to Ace. However, in most games, Ace can optionally be used as a low card (comes before Deuce instead of after King). The suit is not used in ranking (but is sometimes used for other purposes, such as awarding an odd chip when splitting the pot in ties). Here are all the 5-card hands ranked from strongest to weakest:

• Straight Flush: ( e.g. 9$\heartsuit$-8$\heartsuit$-7$\heartsuit$-6$\heartsuit$-5$\heartsuit$) The strongest hand in regular poker - 5 cards that form both a straight and a flush (see below). Straight flushes are ranked by the top card in the straight (note that if Ace is used as low in an Ace to Five straight flush then the Five is the top card). An Ace-high straight flush (the highest possible hand) is called a Royal Flush.

• Four of a Kind: ( e.g. K$\spadesuit$-K$\heartsuit$-K$\diamondsuit$-K$\clubsuit$-3$\spadesuit$) 4 cards of identical rank and one unmatched kicker. Compare four of a kinds by the rank of the 4 matched cards. The kicker is used to break ties (note that in games with community cards, like Texas Hold'em, it is possible for multiple players to hold the same four of a kind).

• Full House: ( e.g. 4$\spadesuit$-4$\heartsuit$-4$\diamondsuit$-J$\heartsuit$-J$\clubsuit$) 3 cards of one rank and 2 cards paired but of another rank. Compare full houses first by the triple and then the pair in the event of a tie.

• Flush: ( e.g. A$\diamondsuit$-K$\diamondsuit$-8$\diamondsuit$-7$\diamondsuit$-6$\diamondsuit$) 5 cards of identical suit. Rank multiple flushes first by comparing the top card, and then each subsequent card ( e.g. A$\clubsuit$-K$\clubsuit$-9$\clubsuit$-5$\clubsuit$-2$\clubsuit$: is better than A$\diamondsuit$-K$\diamondsuit$-8$\diamondsuit$-7$\diamondsuit$-6$\diamondsuit$).

• Straight: ( e.g. J$\clubsuit$-T$\heartsuit$-9$\diamondsuit$-8$\diamondsuit$-7$\spadesuit$) 5 cards in sequence. Straights are ranked by the highest card.

• Three of a Kind: ( e.g. 5$\heartsuit$-5$\diamondsuit$-5$\clubsuit$-T$\spadesuit$-7$\clubsuit$) 3 cards of one rank with 2 kickers of unmatched rank. First compare the rank of the triple, and then examine each kicker (the higher one first).

• Two Pair: ( e.g. A$\spadesuit$-A$\clubsuit$-8$\spadesuit$-8$\clubsuit$-9$\diamondsuit$) 2 cards of one rank, 2 card of another, and one kicker of a third rank. Always compare by the highest pair first, then the second pair, and finally use the kicker.

• One Pair: ( e.g. Q$\diamondsuit$-Q$\clubsuit$-K$\diamondsuit$-8$\diamondsuit$-2$\heartsuit$) 2 cards of one rank with 3 kickers of unmatched rank (compare by the rank of the pair and then examine each kicker in order from the highest to the lowest).

• High Card: ( e.g. K$\spadesuit$-J$\heartsuit$-T$\diamondsuit$-9$\clubsuit$-3$\diamondsuit$) 5 unmatched cards. Compare by the highest to lowest cards, like a flush.

Some variants of poker recognize other special hand types ( e.g. 4-card flush) and allow wild cards (cards that can represent any other card), but these are not common in casino games.