Poker Hand Rankings With Wild Cards
Short answer
With wild cards the usual order stays the same, but a new hand appears at the top: five of a kind. Most home games rank it above a royal flush. Agree on the house rules before the first deal.
Four kings plus a joker = five kings
Common wild card ranking
- Five of a kind
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- One pair
- High card
Some groups put a natural royal flush (no wild cards) above five of a kind. Neither is wrong, it is a house rule.
Popular wild card games
- Deuces wild: all four 2s are wild.
- Joker wild: one or two jokers added to the deck.
- One-eyed jacks: the J♠ and J♥ are wild.
- Bug: a joker that can only complete a straight or flush, or count as an ace.
House rules to settle first
- Does five of a kind beat a royal flush?
- Does a natural hand beat the same hand made with a wild card?
- Can a wild card make a double-suited flush (two A♥ in one flush)?
- Is the joker fully wild or a bug?
One quirk worth knowing: wild cards make some hands easier to build than the ones above them, because a wild card turns a pair into trips more often than into two pair. The standard order is still used so nobody has to relearn it.
FAQ
What is the highest hand with wild cards?
Five of a kind in most house rules, for example four kings plus a wild card.
Does five of a kind beat a royal flush?
In most wild card games yes, but some groups rank a natural royal flush higher. Agree before you play.
Are wild cards used in Texas Hold'em?
Not in standard Hold'em. Wild cards are mostly used in home games like draw and stud.
Does a natural hand beat a wild hand?
Only if your house rules say so. By default, equal hands tie regardless of wild cards.