How to play Poker

Depending on the game being played and the rules of that game, the “wild card” becomes a part of the game. By agreement the players decide to nominate a particular card as a “wild” card. This card now becomes a “Joker”. Usually it can only be used as an Ace or to complete a straight or flush. It can not be used to make three Kings if you have two. When playing for low the joker becomes the lowest rank card in the hand.

The “five of a kind” described above has the wild card to make it the additional hand that ranks above a Straight flush. This however can be a problem if two players hold the same hand composed of different wild cards.

So let us describe the various hands.

1. Top of the list then is the “Five of a kind” which is only possible if playing with wild cards. If two hands have “five of a kind”, the highest rank wins, 5 aces beats 5 kings etc.
2. The “straight flush”. This hand has five cards in sequence and all of the same suite. A straight flush with the Ace top is a “Royal Flush”. This is the highest natural hand you can ever make.
3. “Four of a kind”. This hand consists of four cards all the same rank. If there is more than one player holding such a hand, the hand with the highest rank wins. In the case where there are wild cards it could be that there are two such hands with the same rank. The hand with the highest ranking FIFTH card wins. This rule will apply to hands that tie. Dead heats split the pot.
4. A “Full House”. This hand consists of “three of a kind” plus a “Pair”. If Wild cards are in play, the ranking of the “three of a kind” will determine the winner, then the “pair”.
5. The “Flush”. This hand consists of cards all of the same suite.
6. The “Straight”.A hand where all Five cards are in sequence. Eg. 4-5-6-7-8. An ace in the hand can make the straight by being high as in Ace, King, Queen Jack, ten, or low as in Ace-2-3-0-4.
7. “Three of a kind”. This hand has three cards all of the same rank.
8. “Two pairs”. This is a hand that consists of two pairs.