1 · LEARN THE TABLE · LESSON 3 OF 29 · 5 min
Your best five of seven
At showdown you may use both hole cards, one hole card, or none. First find the strongest category available. Then compare the five ranks that form it. A sixth or seventh card never breaks a tie.
The board is A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠. Everyone still in the hand has the same royal flush, even if someone holds another ace.
Choose five cards, then compare five cards
Start with the board. Does it already make a straight, flush, full house, or two pair? Next see whether either private card improves that five-card hand. You may use both, one, or neither private card. A player who holds an ace does not automatically beat another player on an ace-high board; the ace may not be part of either player's best five.
Consider A♣A♦K♠K♥9♣ on the board. If you hold Q♠J♠ and an opponent holds Q♦10♦, both players have aces and kings, but your queen is the fifth card for both of you. The pot is split. If instead you hold 9♥9♦, your best hand is a full house, nines full of aces, which beats the board's two pair. The important question is what your private cards add to the best five, not whether they look impressive alone.
When two players have the same hand category, compare its ranks in order. For one pair, compare the pair and then the three kickers. For two pair, compare the higher pair, lower pair, then kicker. Stop when five cards are accounted for. A sixth card never breaks a tie in Hold'em.
Before the trainer reveals a showdown, write down your five cards and the opponent's visible five. Circle the first rank that differs.
A strong-looking hole card can be irrelevant when the board already makes a better five-card hand.
MAKE THE CALL
Can a Hold’em player use zero hole cards at showdown?
Start with a prepared decision, then play the rest of the hand with practice chips. Turn on guidance to see the trainer's reasoning.