Card Combinations
There are various types of card combinations that can be used in play.
Single card: Cards rank from 2 (highest) to 3 (lowest). Between cards of the same rank, the higher suit beats the lower suit. That is, a 5♦ beats a 5♥.
Pair: A pair of equally ranked cards. Between pairs of the same rank, the pair with the higher suit wins. That is, a 7♠-7♦ beats a 7♥-7♣.
Three of a kind: Three equally ranked cards. This is a variation of game play and may be excluded or included as a valid card combination.
Five-card hand: Any five-card combination following the poker hand rankings. From highest to lowest, valid poker hands include:
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind (plus an additional card/a Kicker)
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
The playable combinations are similar to poker hands, but there are vital differences. Unlike poker, there are no "two pair" combinations, and although a four of a kind needs a fifth card to be complete, a three of a kind cannot be accompanied by extra cards (except for a full house when played as a five-card hand). Because the two has the highest rank, a royal flush does not necessarily beat a straight flush.
Also, a combination can only be beaten by a better combination with the same number of cards: A single card can be beaten only by a single card, a pair by a pair, a three of a kind by a three of a kind, and a five-card hand by a five-card hand.
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