Poker is a cunning game of skill usually played from a standard pack of 52 playing cards amongst a group of players. There are many different variations of the game but it's best to start with Draw Poker to help you learn the hand ranks and get a feel for the game before moving onto the varieties like Texas Hold Em used in Late Night Poker on Channel 4.

5 Card Draw Poker Rules

Card Values

The cards are ranked (from high to low) Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. (Ace can be high or low, but is usually high). There are four suits (spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs); however, no suit is higher than another. All poker hands contain five cards, the highest ranked hand wins. Below you will find an explanation of the hand rank order below.

For more details on how to organise a Draw Poker game at home see the croupier section.

Royal Flush

Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10,all the same suit.

Straight Flush

All five cards in numerical sequence and all the same suit e.g. 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3 of clubs.

Four of a kind

Four cards with the same value and any other card. e.g. 4 Kings.

Full House

Three cards with the same value and the other two cards with the same value. e.g. 3 Queens and 2 Jacks.

Flush

All 5 cards of the same suit. e.g. Ace, 10, 6, 4, 2 all Spades.

Straight

All 5 cards in numerical sequence any suit e.g. 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5.

Three of a kind

Three cards with the same value and any other two cards. e.g. 3 Jacks.

Two Pair

Two cards with the same value and another two cards with the same value. e.g. 2 Kings and 2 6's.

One Pair

Two cards with the same value and any three other cards. e.g. 2 Kings.

High Card

If none of the above hands exist the highest card in your hand is your best.

When two hands have the same rank hand the highest card prevails. e.g. Straight starting with 9 beats straight starting with 6, Pair Aces beats Pair Kings etc.