Hand Rankings by Variant
What Is Meant by Hand Rankings by Variant
"Hand rankings by variant" refers to how the hierarchy of poker hands changes from one game to another. Most games use the standard poker hand rankings, but some variants use altered versions of those rankings. Short deck games rank a flush above a full house, lowball games award the pot to the lowest hand, and split-pot games divide the pot between the highest and lowest hands.
How Ranking Order Changes by Game
Lowball hand rankings invert the standard order, so the lowest hand wins the pot at showdown. There are two types: ace-to-five lowball rankings and deuce-to-seven lowball rankings. The ranking system that is used depends on the game.
In split-pot games, the pot is divided between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. Each takes half of the pot at showdown. If there is no qualifying low hand, the best high hand wins the whole pot.
Short deck poker games use the standard principle of the highest ranked hand wins the pot, but some hands rank differently due to the rarity of them occurring with a shorter deck. A flush ranks above a full house because a flush becomes harder to make.
Hand Rankings in Each Variant
6+ Hold'em is a popular short deck poker variant. It is played with a 36-card deck with the twos, threes, fours and fives removed and ranks a flush above a full house. With fewer cards of each suit, it makes a flush a rarer occurrence, and therefore it ranks higher than it does in the standard rankings. Short Deck rules (6+ Hold'em).
In Razz, the lowest hand wins and straights and flushes do not count against a hand. The best hand is five-four-three-two-ace. Razz uses the ace-to-five lowball ranking system. Razz rules.
In 2-7 Triple Draw, the lowest hand wins, but straights and flushes count as high hands and aces are always high, so the best hand is seven-five-four-three-two of mixed suits. 2-7 Triple Draw rules.
In 2-7 Single Draw, the same lowball rankings apply as 2-7 Triple Draw, so the best hand is also seven-five-four-three-two of mixed suits. 2-7 Single Draw rules.
In Omaha Hi/Lo, the pot splits between the highest hand and the lowest qualifying hand. A hand must be eight-or-better (five unpaired cards of eight or lower) to qualify for the low half. Omaha Hi/Lo rules.
In Badugi, the best hand is four cards of different ranks and different suits, and the lowest such hand wins. A card that pairs or shares a suit with another does not count towards the four. The best "Badugi" is four-three-two-ace of different suits. Badugi rules.
Examples
Example one: flush vs full house
- Player 1 holds A♠ J♠ 9♠ 7♠ 6♠ (a flush).
- Player 2 holds K♥ K♦ K♣ 8♥ 8♦ (a full house).
In short deck variants, like 6+ Hold'em, Player 1 wins the pot at showdown. In standard Texas Hold'em, Player 2 would win the pot.
Example two: Razz
- Player 1 holds 8♠ 6♥ 4♦ 3♣ 2♠ (an eight-low).
- Player 2 holds 7♥ 6♦ 5♣ 4♠ 3♥ (a seven-low).
Straights and flushes do not count against a razz hand, so the lower hand, held by Player 2 wins the pot at showdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. In short deck poker, a flush ranks above a full house. The deck has twos, threes, fours and fives removed, leaving 36 cards, which makes a flush rarer than in a full deck game, so it ranks higher than a full house. In every game played with a full 52-card deck, a full house ranks higher than a flush.
The best hand in Razz is five-four-three-two-ace, known as a wheel. Razz is a lowball game where the lowest hand wins, and straights and flushes do not count against a hand, so five unpaired low cards make a strong holding.
The best hand in 2-7 Lowball is seven-five-four-three-two of mixed suits. The lowest hand wins, but straights and flushes count as high hands, so the best low avoids both a straight and a flush. This applies in both 2-7 Triple Draw and 2-7 Single Draw.
In Omaha Hi/Lo, the pot is split between the highest hand and the lowest qualifying hand at showdown. The low half is only awarded if a hand qualifies as eight-or-better (five unpaired cards of eight or lower). It is possible for the same player to hold the best high hand and best low hand, in which case, they "scoop" the whole pot. If no hand qualifies for the low, the highest hand takes the whole pot.