Poker for Dummies (Mini Edition) (8 page)

Two pair

Two cards of one rank along with two cards of another rank and one unrelated card compose
two pair.
The higher rank determines which two pair is superior. If two players hold two pair and each has the same high pair, then the rank of the second pair determines the winner. If both players hold the same two pair, then the rank of the unrelated
side card
determines the winning hand. If the hand is identical, then the players split the pot. For example, Q
Q
8
8
4
Queens and 8s is superior to Q
Q
5
5
K
Queens and 5s.

One pair

One pair
is simply two cards of one rank and three unrelated cards. If two players hold the same pair, then the value of the unrelated side cards determines the winning hand.

No pair

No pair
consists of five unrelated cards. When no player has a pair, then the rank order of the unrelated cards determines the winning hand. For example, if Harry has A-Q-9-6-3 and Adrien has A-J-10-3-2, then Harry wins because A-Q ranks higher than A-J.

Low hands

In split-pot games, like Omaha/8, the best low hand composed of five unrelated cards with the rank of 8 or lower, captures half the pot. A hand like 7
6
4
3
A
beats 7
6
5
3
A
but will lose to 7
4
3
2