Dear Mark, A quick
question about Texas
Hold'em: Let's say the five community cards are
all hearts. For example, the board shows the 6,
7, 8, 10, and Jack. In my hand, I have the Ace of
hearts. Do I get to play my Ace of hearts and take
the pot, or am I screwed and the pot is split? Our
poker group had a minor argument the other night
and would like clarification. As long as I have
played, we have played that if you can make a higher
flush, then you win. Andrew R
Correct you are, Andrew,
in that your pocket Ace of hearts ranks
supreme and you can marry it with the just four of
the other hearts on the board (the five face-up cards
in Texas Hold'em). Your Ace-High Flush would be higher
than any other flush whose highest card ranks lower
than the ace. If ever the highest card in the flushes
of two opponents is the same, the hand is counted
down to the next highest card to see which flush is
higher.
This countdown can
continue until the final card of the hand determines
the higher flush. One exception (there's always
one, n'est pas) to your specific example would be
if someone were holding the nine of hearts as one
of their two pocket cards. They trump your hand
because that player would have cards in sequence,
making their hand a Straight Flush.
