Rules General Poker Rules. In most games you are dealt cards from the deck of 52 cards. The number of cards and the rules depends on the game played. Poker can be divided into community card games like Texas Holdem, draw games and stud games. The ace can also be used as an Ace or as a One (1).

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A poker hand consists of five playing cards. Poker hands fall into one of several categories, such as flush, straight, or two pair. The player whose hand is in the higher category wins. If two players have hands in the same category, the tie is broken usually by who has higher cards. Below is a table of the hand categories, highest to lowest.

Category	Example	Tiebreaker
Straight Flush	A Straight Flush consists of 5 cards in numerical sequence, all of the same suit. The higher straight flush wins. AKQJT is the highest straight flush, and is also called a royal flush. 5432A is the lowest straight flush.
4-of-a-kind	The higher 4-of-a-kind wins. If two players have the same 4-of-a-kind, then the highest kicker (the 5th card) wins. 4-of-a-kind is also known as quads.
Full House	A full house consists of a 3-of-a-kind and a pair. The higher 3-of-a-kind wins. If two players have the same 3-of-a-kind (using community cards), then the highest pair wins. Full House is also known as a boat.
Flush	A Flush consists of five cards of the same suit. The higher flush wins. The highest card from each hand is compared, then the second highest, and so on.
Straight	A Straight consists of five cards in numerical sequence. The higher straight wins. AKQJT is the highest straight; 5432A is the lowest straight (5432A is also called a wheel).
3-of-a-kind	The higher 3-of-a-kind wins. If two hands have the same 3-of-a-kind (using community cards), then the 2 kickers (unpaired cards) are used to break the tie. 3-of-a-kind is also known as trips. If you have a pocket pair in Texas Hold'em, and you form trips with a third card on the board, you have a set.
Two Pair	The hand with the higher top pair wins. If the top pairs are equal, then the bottom pairs are used to break the tie. If those are also equal, then the kicker (unpaired card) is used to break the tie.
Pair	The hand with the higher pair wins. If the pairs are equal, then the kickers are used to break the tie, first by comparing the highest kicker, then the 2nd highest kicker, and finally the lowest kicker.
High Card	If a hand does not fit in any other category, it is judged by high cards. Two hands are compared by taking the highest cards and comparing them. If those are equal, then the 2nd highest card from both hands are compared, and so on.

Next Article: Texas Hold'em Rules

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Misdeals

What's A Flush In Poker

• The following circumstances cause a misdeal, provided attention is called to the error before two players have acted on their hands. (If two players have acted in turn, the deal must be played to conclusion, as explained in rule #2)
• The first or second card of the hand has been dealt faceup or exposed through dealer error.
• Two or more cards have been exposed by the dealer.
• Two or more boxed cards (improperly faced cards) are found.
• Two or more extra cards have been dealt in the starting hands of a game.
• An incorrect number of cards has been dealt to a player, except the top card may be dealt if it goes to the player in proper sequence.
• Any card has been dealt out of the proper sequence (except an exposed card may be replaced by the burncard without such action causing a misdeal).
• The button was out of position.
• The first card was dealt to the wrong position.
• Cards have been dealt to an empty seat or a player not entitled to a hand.
• A player has been dealt out who is entitled to a hand. This player must be present at the table or have posted a blind or ante.
• Action is considered to occur in stud games when two players after the forced bet have acted on their hands. In button games, action is considered to occur when two players after the blinds have acted on their hands. Once action occurs, a misdeal can no longer be declared. The hand is played to conclusion and no money is returned to any player whose hand is fouled.