N.J. Admin. Code § 13:47-20.34

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 17, September 3, 2024

Section 13:47-20.34 - Poker; number of decks; rankings

(a) Poker shall be played with one deck of cards with backs of the same color and design and one additional cover card. The cover card shall be opaque and in a solid color readily distinguishable from the color of the backs and edges of the playing cards. Two decks of cards shall be maintained for use at each poker table at all times. Each deck maintained at the poker table shall be visually distinguishable in some manner from the other deck. While one deck is in use, the other deck shall be placed in the designated area on the table.

(b) The rank of the cards for the determination of winning poker hands, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three and two. All suits shall be considered equal in rank. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an ace may be used to complete a "straight flush" or a "straight" formed with, as applicable, a two and three (in a three card poker hand) or a two, three, four and five (in a five card poker hand).

(c) The permissible high poker hands in poker games that result in a five card hand, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be:

1. "Royal flush" is a hand consisting of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit;

2. "Straight flush" is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking, with king, queen, jack, 10 and nine being the highest ranking straight flush and five, four, three, two and ace being the lowest ranking straight flush; provided, however, that an ace may not be combined with any other sequence of cards for purposes of determining a winning hand (for example, queen, king, ace, two, three);

3. "Four-of-a-kind" is a hand consisting of four cards of the same rank regardless of suit, with four aces being the highest ranking four-of-a-kind and four twos being the lowest ranking four-of-a-kind;

4. "Full house" is a hand consisting of "three-of-a-kind" and a "pair," with three aces and two kings being the highest ranking full house and three twos and two threes being the lowest ranking full house;

5. "Flush" is a hand consisting of five cards of the same suit;

6. "Straight" is a hand consisting of five cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit, with an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 being the highest ranking straight and an ace, two, three, four and five being the lowest ranking straight: provided, however, that an ace may not be combined with any other sequence of cards for purposes of determining a winning hand (for example, queen, king, ace, two, three);

7. "Three-of-a-kind" is a hand consisting of three cards of the same rank regardless of suit, with three aces being the highest ranking three-of-a-kind and three twos being the lowest ranking three-of-a-kind;

8. "Two pairs" is a hand consisting of two "pairs" with two aces and two kings being the highest ranking two pair and two threes and two twos being the lowest ranking two pair; and

9. "One pair" is a hand consisting of two cards of the same rank, regardless of suit, with two aces being the highest ranking pair and two twos being the lowest ranking pair.

(d) The permissible high poker hands in poker games that result in a three card hand, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be:

1. "Royal flush" is a hand consisting of an ace, king and queen of the same suit;

2. "Straight flush" is a hand consisting of three cards of the same suit in consecutive rankings with king, queen and jack being the highest ranking straight flush and a three, two and ace being the lowest ranking straight flush; provided, however, that an ace may not be combined with a king and two for purposes of determining a winning hand;

3. "Three-of-a-kind" is a hand consisting of three cards of the same rank, regardless of suit, with three aces being the highest ranking three-of-a-kind and three twos being the lowest ranking three-of-a-kind;

4. "Straight" is a hand consisting of three cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit, with an ace, king and queen being the highest ranking straight and a three, two and ace being the lowest ranking straight: provided, however, that an ace may not be combined with a king and two for purposes of determining a winning hand;

5. "Flush" is a hand consisting of three cards of the same suit; and

6. "One pair" is a hand consisting of two cards of the same rank, regardless of suit, with two aces being the highest ranking pair and two twos being the lowest ranking pair.

(e) When comparing two hands which are of identical poker hand rank pursuant to the provisions of (c) or (d) above, as applicable, or which contain none of the poker hands authorized for that game, the hand which contains the highest ranking card as provided in (b) above, which is not contained in the other hand shall be considered the higher ranking hand. If the hands are of identical rank after the application of this subsection, the hands shall be considered tied and the pot shall be equally divided among the players with the tied hands.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:47-20.34

New Rule, R.2006 d.350, effective 10/2/2006.
See: 38 N.J.R. 1642(a), 38 N.J.R. 4232(a).