04-29-08, Clark Jensen:

Ace High Flushes

Great site, very informative and a good read. I'd like to think this site is partly responsible for the money I've been winning at the small buy-in tournaments I've been playing.

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I just have a comment on a recurring theme I've seen as I've been reading through the questions about ace high flushes and split pots.

In more than one reply, you've stated that you don't understand why a higher card of a suit wins a pot if both players have an A high flush (example; player 1 has Kd2d, player 2 has QdJd; board is Ad 8d 6d 10c 4s, and player 1 wins the pot). Your argument is that both players have an ace high flush and the higher card rule doesn't make sense. You also have said that this only applies to flushes. However, I don't believe that's true and I think this rule makes perfect sense.

Just calling it an "ace high flush" doesn't mean both players have the same hand. As we all know, the BEST 5 cards win a pot, and you always count from highest rank to lowest. So why wouldn't you start with the ace, then move down (as in my example above, to the king)?

This is true for hands that involve no pair at all as well. Example (we'll assume rainbow suits, so no flush): player 1 has K3, player 2 has QJ; board is A 9 8 7 2. Both players have "ace high", but moving down in rank, the player with the king wins the pot, because he has AK987 vs. AQJ98. So why wouldn't this logic apply to flushes? Doesn't it make sense that AK987 of diamonds beats AQJ98 of diamonds? Even though both players have an "ace high flush", the "king diamond" kicker still plays to win the pot.

I love your insight into the game and take much of your advice to heart, but it really boggles my mind that this rule baffles you so. To me it just seems like common sense. Unless there's a finer point that I'm missing here, though I would love to get your opinion on my logic!

Answer:

Hi Jamie,

Thanks a lot for your kind words.

I think there is some kind of misunderstanding.

The questions posted regarding which flush that wins are from our visitors.

As you said, the best five card poker hand always wins. Meaning a person holding Qd-Jd beats a person holding Td-8d on a Ad-Kh-7d-5s-4d board. Both hold ace-high flushes, but the first player has Ad-Qd-Jd-7d-4d and the second player has Ad-Td-8d-7d-4d.

Hope this clarifies the misunderstanding.

Regards, Clark

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