Non-Standard Poker Hands

This page describes hands that are not part of the standard poker hand rankings. Unless all players have agreed to use a non-standard hand before the deal, it has no value and the cards are read under the standard rankings.

Before play, the dealer or host shall announce which non-standard hands are in use, how each is defined and exactly where it ranks. Where a definition below says a hand's position varies, the announcement shall settle it.

Several of these hands are traditional in older American home poker. Many are found only in particular regions or circles, and names are not used consistently. A kilter (or kelter) in particular is a general name that may mean a skeet, a little cat, a skip straight or a variant of one of them, depending on the house.

Where dogs and cats are used, they rank in this order from lowest to highest: little dog, big dog, little cat, big cat. All four beat a straight.

How far above a straight they rank varies. The usual traditional practice places them below a flush; some published lists place the big cat much higher. The house shall state which applies.

The ranking of these hands varies widely. The combined list on Wikipedia places them all below a straight and above three of a kind, in this order from highest to lowest: round-the-corner straight, skip straight, five and dime, skeet. Some houses rank a skeet or a skip straight above a straight.

A skeet flush is usually ranked with the highest hands, above an ordinary straight flush, where it is recognised at all.

A round-the-corner straight is not a straight under standard rules. In standard poker the ace may be high (10-J-Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3-4-5) but not both at once.

A blaze always contains at least one pair, because only three ranks are available for five cards. Where a hand qualifies under two definitions, such as a blaze that is also three of a kind, the player may use whichever ranks higher.