Poker uses a standard deck of playing cards. There are 52 cards in a standard deck, although some poker games change that number by using “wild cards,” like jokers. The card ranking is as follows: ace (the highest), king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 (the lowest). Note that an ace may also be the lowest card depending on the variation of poker you are playing, but most of the time aces represent the highest value.

There are four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. No suit is higher than any other. All poker hands contain five cards; the highest hand wins.

The use of wild cards depends on the variation of poker being played. Wild cards take on any rank or suit you want. A wild card can either be a “separate” card like a joker, or in other games a certain card in the standard deck can be designed as a wild card—deuces, for example.

The number of cards you’re dealt depends on the kind of poker you’re playing. Check out our poker descriptions in the Games section for details.

Games rules:

• Rank of Hands
  
  
• Texas Hold’Em
  
  
• Omaha High
  
  
• Omaha or Better
  
  
• Seven Card Stud
  
  
• Stud 8 or Better