Ace
An ace is the card marked A. In standard high-hand poker it ranks above a king, but it can also be low in a straight.
The simple explanation
There are four aces in a standard deck, one in each suit. In games such as Hold'em, an ace normally ranks highest. In A-2-3-4-5, however, it sits below the two to make the lowest straight, called a wheel. An ace in your hand can be useful, but it does not guarantee a winning hand.
A closer look
In standard 52-card high-hand poker, an ace can sit at either end of a straight: A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A. It cannot connect the ends into Q-K-A-2-3. When two players have the same pair, an ace may act as a kicker. The game matters: aces are low in ace-to-five rankings, while they remain high in deuce-to-seven lowball. Suits do not break ties between equal poker hands.
A practical example
Both A♠ 2♦ 3♣ 4♥ 5♠ and 10♥ J♦ Q♣ K♠ A♥ form straights in standard Hold'em. The first uses the ace low; the second uses it high.
Full explanation
An ace is the card marked A. In standard high-hand poker it ranks above a king, but it can also be low in a straight.
The ace is usually the highest card in Hold’em and other standard high-hand games. A pair of aces beats any lower pair, though it can still lose to a stronger category of hand.
The main straight exception is A-2-3-4-5, where the ace counts low. An ace can also complete 10-J-Q-K-A, but a straight cannot wrap around from king through ace to two.
Check the variant before ranking low hands. Ace-to-five treats aces as low; deuce-to-seven treats them as high.
A wheel
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A completes ace, two, three, four, five. The lowest possible straight, with the ace playing low, is called the wheel.
Board: 33 of clubs (3c)44 of spades (4s)55 of hearts (5h)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)22 of diamonds (2d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of diamonds (Kd)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.