single hand always wins

highest card out of all hands wins

a tie has multiple winners

multiple hands with the same high cards, tie compares next highest ranked, down to last card

winning high card hand also has the lowest card

one pair beats high card

highest pair wins

both hands have the same pair, high card wins

two pairs beats one pair

both hands have two pairs, highest ranked pair wins

both hands have two pairs, with the same highest ranked pair, tie goes to low pair

both hands have two identically ranked pairs, tie goes to remaining card (kicker)

both hands have two pairs that add to the same value, win goes to highest pair

two pairs first ranked by largest pair

three of a kind beats two pair

both hands have three of a kind, tie goes to highest ranked triplet

with multiple decks, two players can have same three of a kind, ties go to highest remaining cards

a straight beats three of a kind

aces can end a straight (10 J Q K A)

aces can start a straight (A 2 3 4 5)

aces cannot be in the middle of a straight (Q K A 2 3)

both hands with a straight, tie goes to highest ranked card

even though an ace is usually high, a 5-high straight is the lowest-scoring straight

flush beats a straight

both hands have a flush, tie goes to high card, down to the last one if necessary

full house beats a flush

both hands have a full house, tie goes to highest-ranked triplet

with multiple decks, both hands have a full house with the same triplet, tie goes to the pair

four of a kind beats a full house

both hands have four of a kind, tie goes to high quad

with multiple decks, both hands with identical four of a kind, tie determined by kicker

straight flush beats four of a kind

aces can end a straight flush (10 J Q K A)

aces can start a straight flush (A 2 3 4 5)

aces cannot be in the middle of a straight flush (Q K A 2 3)

both hands have straight flush, tie goes to highest-ranked card

even though an ace is usually high, a 5-high straight flush is the lowest-scoring straight flush