Is a small house tournament (30 players) with a bad beat jackpot that must be won.

On a board of queen, queen, six, six five, One of the players tables his hand (queen five) and says he has high hand as queens over fives is better than what has been posted before and by declaring queens over fives he uses both cards. Others state correctly that cards count and his best hand is queens over sixes in which case he only used on card.

Who is right and what would you have done?

In the end it did not matter as queens over fives did not hold up. Since it was my house they asked me to decide and I ended up giving it to him as it was a friendly game and high hand was not worth much. I also based it on him being a regular player who was one of the weakest players in the game (though I know i shouldn't). It would have been nice to see him collect something,

I think in retrospect I was wrong. If you had a hand that ended with four queens (say queen, king) and there was an ace on board you king would not play. I think the same logic would apply to the queen five hand.

Yes, you were wrong.

(1) What is the best five-card hand that the player can make using the five community cards and his two hole cards?
(2) Do both hole cards play in that five-card hand?

In your example, the player uses only one of his hole cards to make his best five-card hand.

The fact that he's a regular or your friend or a big tipper or red-headed has no bearing on whether he's made a qualifying high hand.

He did not have QQQ55, he had QQQ66.

I understand that it was wrong decision but let's ask the question another way, We have 25 to 30 players each tournament. we will pay either 5 or 6 depending on how close we are to 30. The player in question is a terrible player who enjoys it so he comes every tournament. Not only has he never cashed, he has never ever made the final table. He rebuys 2 or 3 times a tournament. We have 60.00 entry 20 rebuys and 40 add on so it's not financial life threating for anyone. So right now, he is down about $1,500,
I even discussed with his friend privately to see his situation. He is a plumber which is a good paying job in Canada and he just loves to play. So I know it is wrong but I thought I would error in his favor especially since at this point no one was hurt by it. The high before that was a straight so we know that would not hold up. So I believe my heart was in the right place and consensus was to give it to him.

Under standard high hand rules you are wrong. But guess what you are entitled to decide that the high hand rules at your house are different but once you decide you need keep to that interpretation. Unless you want the KQ on a board of QQQA3 to win high hand you need to create a simple flyer describing the high hand rules at your game and stick to them. As of now you risk losing a player if your favored players get one ruling while everyone else is judged by harsher rules.

I do like the idea, but it always seems more trouble than it's worth.

** Is it a bad beat or high hand?

Cards speak. Best 5 cards play.

If you must use both cards, then not a high hand.


I'll disagree. It matters.
You showed the group that you are willing to break the rules.
What happens next time when a player who isn't weak wants you to break the rules?


Yes, you were.
Having established rules helps.
Following those rules is even better.