There are 2,598,960 many possible 5-card Poker hands. Working with poker hands is an excellent way to illustrate the counting techniques covered previously in this blog – multiplication principle, permutation and combination (also covered here). The discussion is mostly mathematical, using the Poker hands to illustrate counting techniques and calculation of probabilities If you had K-K-5-5-9 you would win based on having the higher pair as kings beat queens.This post works with 5-card Poker hands drawn from a standard deck of 52 cards.

For example, say you both have 2 pair of the same cards: you have Q-Q-5-5-9 and your opponent has Q-Q-5-5-2. High card will also be important if you tie another player. If no one has any of the above hands, the player with the highest card in his hand wins. Two pairs of cards of the same number or rank, such as Q-Q-5-5 in a hand such as Q-Q-5-5-4. Three cards of the same number or rank, such as 7-7-7 in a hand such as 7-7-7-5-Q. Straightįive cards in a row, such as 2-3-4-5-6, but not all of the same suit. Flushįive cards all of the same suit, but not in order, such as 4-6-7-Q-K of spades. Three of a kind and a pair together, such as 8-8-8-5-5 or K-K-K-A-A 5. Four of a Kindįour of the same card, such as 3-3-3-3-8. Straight Flushįive cards, of the same suit, in order, such as 5-6-7-8-9 all of clubs. Royal Straight Flushġ0-J-Q-K-A, all of the same suit. The following is a list of 5 card poker hands, from the best to worst, without jokers or wild cards in play 1. After everyone receives their new cards, players show their hands and the best hand wins.The dealer deals all new cards to one player before moving on to the next player. Starting with the player to the dealer's left, the dealer deals each player new cards to replace any that they have discarded.A player does not need to draw any cards if he wants to keep his original hand. If a player holds an ace, he can discard the other four cards but must retain the ace. Each player then discards and draws up to 3 new cards to try and make a better hand than what they were dealt.Starting with the player to the dealer's left, the dealer deals each player five cards, clockwise, one card at a time (face down with real cards): First card to each player, second card to each player, etc.

The deal can rotate clockwise among the players so that each person has a turn at dealing. Without betting, the basic rules of 5 card draw poker are as follows:

Poker hands probability calculation