In high games, like Texas hold 'em and seven-card stud, the highest-ranking hands win. Each hand has a rank, which is compared against the ranks of other hands participating in the showdown to decide who wins the pot. In poker, players form sets of five playing cards, called hands, according to the rules of the game. An ace-high straight flush, commonly known as a royal flush, is the best possible hand in many variants of poker.
