Video poker is a game of chance. Poker is played from a standard pack of 52 cards. (Some variant games use multiple packs or add a few cards called jokers.)

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.

Hands are ranked as follows (from high to low):

Straight Flush - The best possible natural hand. A straight flush has a straight (5 cards in order, such as 5-6-7-8-9) that are all of the same suit. As in a regular straight, you can have an ace either high (A-K-Q-J-T) or low (5-4-3-2-1). However, a straight may not 'wraparound'. (Such as K-A-2-3-4, which is not a straight). An Ace high straight-flush is called a Royal Flush and is the highest natural hand.

Four of a Kind - This had contains four cards of the same rank. If there are two or more hands that qualify, the hand with the higher ranking four of a kind wins. If, in some bizarre game with many wild cards, there are two four of a kinds with the same rank, then the one with the high card outside the four of the kind wins.

Full House - This hand contains three of a kind and a pair, such as K-K-K-5-5. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then pair. So K-K-K-2-2 beats Q-Q-Q-A-A, which beats Q-Q-Q-J-J. (Obviously, the three of a kind can only be similar if wild cards are used.)

Flush - This is a hand where all of the cards are the same suit, such as J-8-5-3-2, all of spades. When flushes ties, follow the rules for High Card.

Straight - This is 5 cards in order, such as 4-5-6-7-8. An ace may either be high (A-K-Q-J-T) or low (5-4-3-2-1). However, a straight may not 'wraparound'. (Such as Q-K-A-2-3, which is not a straight). When straights tie, the highest straight wins. (AKQJT beats KQJT9 down to 5432A). If two straights have the same value (AKQJT vs AKQJT) they split the pot.

Three of a Kind - Three cards of any rank, matched with two cards that are not a pair (otherwise it would be a Full House. Again, highest three of a kind wins. If both are the same rank, then the compare High Cards.

Two Pair - This contains two distinct pairs of cards and a 5th card. The highest pair wins ties. If both hands have the same high pair, the second pair wins. If both hands have the same pairs, the high card wins.

Pair - One pair with three distinct cards. High card breaks ties.

High Card - Any hand which does not qualify as any one of the above hands. If no player has a pair or better, then the highest card wins. If multiple players tie for the highest card, they look at the second highest, then the third highest etc. High card is also used to break ties when the high hands both have the same type of hand.