How Hand Rankings Work in Super 10
Super 10 uses a hierarchy of hand types to determine winners. The most important concept to understand is that special hands always beat point-based hands, regardless of numeric total. Within each category, specific tiebreaker rules apply. This guide ranks every hand type from highest to lowest and explains how they compare.
Complete Hand Rankings (Highest to Lowest)
| Rank | Hand Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Three of a Kind | Three cards of identical rank (e.g., 7-7-7 or K-K-K) |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Three consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 4♠ 5♠ 6♠) |
| 3 | Three Picture Cards (Super 10) | Any three cards from: J, Q, K, 10 — mixed or same |
| 4 | Straight | Three consecutive cards of mixed suits (e.g., 7♥ 8♦ 9♠) |
| 5 | Flush | Three cards of the same suit, not consecutive |
| 6 | Point 9 | Last digit of card total equals 9 |
| 7 | Point 8 | Last digit of card total equals 8 |
| 8 | Point 7 | Last digit of card total equals 7 |
| 9 | Points 6 and below | Lower point totals, ranked downward to 0 |
Special Hands Explained
Three of a Kind — The Pinnacle
Three cards of identical rank is the highest possible hand in Super 10. Three Kings beats three Aces in some regional variants — check your local rules. In standard play, higher-ranked three-of-a-kind beats lower-ranked (e.g., three 9s beats three 2s).
Straight Flush
Three consecutive cards sharing the same suit. Example: 6♣ 7♣ 8♣. If two players hold straight flushes, the hand with the higher top card wins. Suits do not break ties between equivalent straight flushes in most variants.
Three Picture Cards (The "Super 10")
The hand that gives the game its name. Any combination of three cards drawn from the group {10, J, Q, K} qualifies. This hand has a point total that calculates to 0 (since all four cards are worth 0 in point play), but it ranks above all standard point-based hands. Example combinations:
- J – Q – K
- 10 – J – K
- Q – Q – 10
- K – K – K (this also qualifies as Three of a Kind, so it ranks even higher)
Straight
Three consecutive cards of mixed suits. Example: 5♥ 6♠ 7♦. Higher straights beat lower ones; a 7-8-9 straight beats a 4-5-6 straight.
Flush
Three cards sharing the same suit but not in sequence. Example: 2♦ 5♦ 9♦. If two players hold flushes, the one with the higher point total (last digit) wins. If point totals tie, the higher individual card may apply — check local rules.
Point Hands (6 Down to 0)
When no special hand is present, hands are judged purely by point value — the last digit of the sum of all three cards.
- 9 — Best point hand. Example: A + 2 + 6 = 9
- 8 — Strong hand. Example: 3 + 5 + K(0) = 8
- 7 — Competitive hand. Example: 2 + 5 + Q(0) = 7
- 6 and below — Increasingly weak; bet accordingly.
- 0 — Weakest point hand. Example: 5 + 5 + K(0) = 10, last digit = 0
Tiebreaker Rules
When two hands are equal in rank and value, common tiebreaker rules include:
- Dealer wins all ties (most common house rule).
- Suit hierarchy breaks ties (Spades > Hearts > Diamonds > Clubs).
- A push/refund is issued (less common).
Always confirm the tiebreaker rule before your session begins, as it varies between tables and regional versions of Super 10.
Quick Reference Summary
Remember this priority order: Three of a Kind → Straight Flush → Three Pictures → Straight → Flush → Points (9 to 0). Any hand from a higher category beats any hand from a lower category, regardless of cards involved.