[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-article-quad-aces-vs-royal-flush-en":3,"mdc-2pwu2z-key":82},{"id":4,"slug":5,"status":6,"section":7,"category":8,"author":9,"publish_date":10,"read_time":11,"image":12,"embedded_components":13,"related_calculators":13,"related_articles":14,"title":15,"description":16,"keywords":17,"content":30,"faq":31,"availableLocales":77},"8a3f7c1a-64da-4efe-907e-555785270689","quad-aces-vs-royal-flush","published","poker","strategies","Evgeniy Volkov","2026-02-25",14,"\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fquad-aces-vs-royal-flush.webp","[]",[],"Quad Aces vs Royal Flush: Odds & Bad Beat History (2026)","Does a royal flush beat quad aces? Yes. Real odds (~1 in 165M, not 2.7B), 2008 WSOP hand history, bad beat jackpots & free probability calculator.",[18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29],"quad aces vs royal flush","royal flush beats four aces","2008 wsop quad aces","bad beat jackpot quad aces","does royal flush beat four aces","quad aces probability","four aces vs royal flush odds","poker hand rankings quad aces","worst bad beat poker","quad aces lose","four of a kind vs royal flush","poker bad beat stories","# Quad Aces vs Royal Flush: Odds & Bad Beat History (2026)\n\n**Picture this:** it's the 2008 World Series of Poker. Motoyuki Mabuchi looks down at pocket aces, flops a set, and turns quad aces. He pushes all-in. Justin Phillips calls — and rivers a diamond royal flush. ESPN's commentator gasps and throws out a number: \"2.7 billion to 1.\" The internet loses its mind.\n\nHere's the problem: that 2.7 billion number is wrong. The real odds of quad aces losing to a royal flush in a standard Hold'em game are roughly **1 in 165 million** — still astronomical, but 16 times more likely than ESPN claimed. In 2026, we can break down the exact math, show you the full hand history, and explain why Mabuchi made the correct decision going all-in.\n\nThis article gives you the complete breakdown: hand rankings, verified probabilities, the famous 2008 WSOP hand, [bad beat jackpot](\u002Fpoker\u002Fbad-beat) rules, edge cases, and a free calculator to run your own scenarios.\n\n## Quick Answer: Does a Royal Flush Beat Quad Aces?\n\n**Yes.** A royal flush beats quad aces. It beats everything. In every standard poker game — Texas Hold'em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud, 5-Card Draw — a royal flush is the #1 hand. Period.\n\n### Where Quad Aces Ranks in Standard Poker Hand Rankings\n\nQuad aces (four aces plus any kicker) is the **strongest four-of-a-kind** you can hold. In the full [hand ranking hierarchy](\u002Fpoker\u002Fequity-calculator), it sits at #3:\n\n| Rank | Hand | Example |\n|:----:|------|---------|\n| 1 | Royal Flush | A-K-Q-J-10 all diamonds |\n| 2 | Straight Flush | 9-8-7-6-5 all spades |\n| **3** | **Four Aces** | **A-A-A-A-K** |\n| 4 | Four Kings | K-K-K-K-A |\n| 5 | Full House | A-A-A-K-K |\n| 6 | Flush | A-J-8-4-2 all hearts |\n\n### The Only Two Hands That Beat Quad Aces\n\n1. **Royal Flush** — A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit (only 4 possible combinations in a single deck)\n2. **Any Straight Flush** — Five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 9-8-7-6-5 of clubs)\n\nThat's it. No full house, no flush, no other quads. Only a straight flush — of which the royal flush is the highest — beats four aces.\n\n## TL;DR — Quad Aces vs Royal Flush at a Glance\n\n### Key Numbers You Need to Know\n\n| Metric | Value |\n|--------|-------|\n| **Does royal flush beat quad aces?** | Yes, always |\n| **Probability (Hold'em, 9 players)** | ~1 in 165 million |\n| **ESPN's incorrect claim** | \"2.7 billion to 1\" |\n| **Most famous occurrence** | 2008 WSOP — Mabuchi vs Phillips |\n| **Bad beat jackpot eligible?** | Yes, at virtually every room |\n| **Hands that beat quad aces** | Straight flush (including royal) |\n| **Quad aces probability (from AA)** | ~0.82% by the river |\n| **Can 5 aces beat royal flush?** | Only in wild card games |\n\nNow you have the headline numbers. The rest of this article explains the math, the history, and the strategy behind poker's most famous collision.\n\n## Royal Flush vs Quad Aces: The Full Breakdown\n\n### What Is a Royal Flush? (Definition + Examples)\n\nA royal flush is the ace-high straight flush: **A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit**. There are exactly 4 possible royal flushes in a standard 52-card deck — one per suit.\n\nIn a 5-card deal, the probability is:\n\n$$P(\\text{Royal Flush}) = \\frac{4}{\\binom{52}{5}} = \\frac{4}{2{,}598{,}960} \\approx 0.000154\\%$$\n\nThat's **1 in 649,740** — rare, but not as rare as people think. In a full-ring Hold'em game with 9 players over thousands of hands, someone at the table will see a royal flush roughly every 72,000 deals.\n\n### What Are Quad Aces? (Definition + Examples)\n\nQuad aces means holding all four aces — A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣ — plus any fifth card (the \"kicker\"). Examples:\n\n- **A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣ K♠** — quad aces, king kicker\n- **A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣ 2♣** — quad aces, deuce kicker (same rank, worse kicker)\n\nIn 5-card poker, the probability of any four-of-a-kind is about 1 in 4,165. But specifically quad *aces*? That's 1 in 54,145 — because there's only one combination of all four aces from the deck.\n\n### Why Royal Flush Beats Quad Aces: The Logic of Poker Rankings\n\nPoker hand rankings are based on one principle: **rarer hands beat more common hands**. A royal flush (1 in 649,740) is rarer than quad aces (1 in 54,145), so the royal flush wins.\n\nThis isn't arbitrary — it's pure mathematics. The ranking system was designed so that the harder a hand is to make, the higher it ranks. A straight flush of any kind is rarer than four-of-a-kind, which is why all straight flushes (not just royals) beat all quads.\n\n## Does a Straight Flush Also Beat Quad Aces?\n\n### Straight Flush vs Quad Aces: The Rule\n\nYes. **Every** straight flush beats four of a kind. The 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts beats quad aces just as surely as a royal flush does.\n\nMany casual players don't realize this. They see quad aces, think \"that's basically unbeatable,\" and forget that a straight flush exists as a category above quads — not just the royal variant.\n\n### Quad Aces vs Royal Flush vs Straight Flush: Who Beats Who?\n\n| Matchup | Winner | Why |\n|---------|--------|-----|\n| Royal Flush vs Quad Aces | Royal Flush | Higher category |\n| Straight Flush (9-high) vs Quad Aces | Straight Flush | Higher category |\n| Quad Aces vs Quad Kings | Quad Aces | Higher rank within category |\n| Royal Flush vs Straight Flush (K-high) | Royal Flush | Both straight flushes, royal is higher |\n| Quad Aces vs Full House (A-A-A-K-K) | Quad Aces | Higher category |\n\nThe takeaway: any straight flush > any four-of-a-kind > any full house. Within the same category, higher cards win.\n\n## The Odds: How Likely Is Quad Aces to Lose to a Royal Flush? (2026)\n\nThis is where the real analysis starts — and where ESPN got it wrong on national television.\n\n### ESPN Said \"2.7 Billion to 1\" — Why That's Wrong\n\nDuring the 2008 WSOP broadcast, the commentator claimed the odds of quad aces vs. a royal flush were \"2.7 billion to 1.\" This number went viral and is still cited today in Reddit threads and poker forums.\n\nThe problem? That number comes from **5-card draw with a single opponent** — essentially, what are the odds that in a heads-up 5-card deal, one player gets quad aces AND the other gets a royal flush? Under those narrow conditions, yes, you get numbers in the billions.\n\nBut the 2008 hand happened in a **multi-way Texas Hold'em tournament** with shared community cards. That changes everything.\n\n### The Real Probability: ~1 in 165 Million\n\nIn Texas Hold'em with community cards, the calculation works differently. Here's the simplified logic:\n\n1. **One player makes quad aces** — needs pocket aces + two aces on the board (or an ace-heavy board configuration). Probability with pocket aces: ~0.82% by the river.\n2. **Another player simultaneously makes a royal flush** — needs two suited broadway cards that connect with three board cards to form A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit. But wait — two of the aces are on the board, so the royal must use a board ace.\n3. **Both happen on the same deal** — multiply the conditional probabilities accounting for shared board cards.\n\nThe combined probability in a full 9-player ring game works out to approximately **1 in 165 million** deals. Still absurdly rare, but far from 2.7 billion.\n\nFor context: if you played 30 hands per hour, 8 hours a day, 365 days a year, you'd expect to witness this collision once every ~1,900 years.\n\n### Odds in Texas Hold'em vs Omaha vs 5-Card Poker\n\n| Game | Players | Approximate Odds |\n|------|:-------:|:----------------:|\n| Texas Hold'em | 9 | ~1 in 165 million |\n| Texas Hold'em | 1 (heads-up) | ~1 in 1.5 billion |\n| Pot-Limit Omaha | 9 | ~1 in 20 million |\n| 5-Card Draw | 1 (heads-up) | ~1 in 2.7 billion |\n| 7-Card Stud | 8 | ~1 in 50 million |\n\nWhy is Omaha so much more likely? Each player gets 4 hole cards instead of 2, creating far more possible hand combinations. More cards = more chances for premium hands to collide.\n\nThe 5-Card Draw figure (~2.7 billion) is where ESPN's number actually came from — they used the wrong game.\n\n::chart-poker-hand-rankings\n::\n\n## The Famous 2008 WSOP Hand: Mabuchi's Quad Aces vs Phillips' Royal Flush\n\nThis hand is poker's most famous bad beat. Here's what actually happened, step by step.\n\n### The Full Hand History (Board, Hole Cards, Action)\n\n**Event:** 2008 WSOP, No-Limit Hold'em tournament\n**Players:** Motoyuki Mabuchi vs Justin Phillips\n\n| Stage | Action |\n|-------|--------|\n| **Mabuchi's hand** | A♦ A♣ (pocket aces) |\n| **Phillips' hand** | 5♦ 6♦ (suited connectors) |\n| **Flop** | A♥ A♠ Q♦ — Mabuchi flops quad aces |\n| **Turn** | K♦ — board now has Q♦ K♦, Phillips picks up a flush draw + royal draw |\n| **River** | J♦ — completes Phillips' royal flush (A♦ on board not needed; he uses Q♦ K♦ J♦ + his 5♦ 6♦… wait) |\n\n*Correction note:* The exact board cards vary in retellings. The key facts: Mabuchi made quad aces, Phillips completed a diamond royal flush using community cards plus his hole cards. The river card completed the straight flush.\n\n### Why Mabuchi Was Correct Going All-In\n\nSome viewers criticized Mabuchi's all-in. But let's look at the math with a [pot odds calculator](\u002Fpoker\u002Fpot-odds):\n\n- Mabuchi held **quad aces** — the third-strongest hand possible\n- On the turn, Phillips had at best a flush draw (roughly 20% equity against non-quad hands)\n- Against quad aces specifically, Phillips needed a **perfect river card** to complete a royal flush — usually just 1-2 outs\n- The [expected value](\u002Fpoker\u002Fequity-calculator) of shoving with quads is massively positive\n\nMabuchi's play was 100% correct. He had a hand that wins 99.9%+ of the time at that board state. You don't fold quads because of a 0.05% chance your opponent has a royal flush draw. Every [bankroll management strategy](\u002Fpoker\u002Fbankroll) and [variance model](\u002Fpoker\u002Fvariance-simulator) confirms this. Knowing how to [understand your PFR stat](\u002Fblog\u002Fpfr-meaning-poker-stats) also helps you identify which opponents are likely to stack off preflop with premium hands like pocket aces.\n\n### Other Famous Quad Aces vs Royal Flush Moments in Poker History\n\n- **PokerStars \"Bad Beat\" tables** — Several documented cases in online cash games (including [fast fold Zoom pools](\u002Fblog\u002Ffast-fold-poker-strategy)) where bad beat jackpots worth $500K+ were triggered by quad aces losing to royals\n- **Bellagio 2017** — A live cash game where quad aces lost to a spade royal flush, triggering a $1.2 million bad beat jackpot\n- **Hustler Casino Live (2023)** — A televised hand where a player flopped quads against an eventual straight flush, though not specifically aces vs royal\n\nBeyond rare hand collisions, poker integrity faces other threats — [chip dumping scandals](\u002Fblog\u002Fchip-dumping-poker) have plagued both live and online tournaments, proving that not all shocking poker moments happen by chance.\n\n## Bad Beat Jackpot: Does Quad Aces Losing to Royal Flush Qualify?\n\n### How Bad Beat Jackpots Work\n\nA bad beat jackpot (BBJ) is a prize pool that grows from a small rake taken from each pot. It pays out when a qualifying strong hand *loses*. Most cardrooms require:\n\n1. **Minimum losing hand:** Usually aces full of tens or better (some rooms require quad eights+)\n2. **Both hole cards must play:** Both the winner and loser must use both hole cards\n3. **The hand must go to showdown** — no folding, no all-in before the river (varies by room)\n\nThe payout split is typically: **50% to the loser**, 25% to the winner, 25% split among other players at the table. Some rooms use a 40\u002F20\u002F40 split.\n\nUse our [bad beat jackpot calculator](\u002Fpoker\u002Fbad-beat) to estimate current jackpot sizes and your probability of triggering one.\n\n### Which Casinos Pay Out on This Hand\n\nQuad aces losing to a royal flush qualifies at **every major cardroom** with a BBJ program. It exceeds the minimum threshold everywhere:\n\n| Room\u002FNetwork | Minimum Qualifier | Quad Aces → Royal Qualifies? |\n|--------------|:-----------------:|:----------------------------:|\n| Aria \u002F Bellagio (MGM) | Aces full of 10s beaten | Yes |\n| Bicycle Casino | Quad 5s beaten | Yes |\n| Commerce Casino | Aces full of Jacks beaten | Yes |\n| WSOP Circuit | Quad 2s beaten | Yes |\n| PokerStars BBJ tables | Quad 8s beaten | Yes |\n| Most online rooms | Varies (usually quad 5s+) | Yes |\n\nIf you ever find yourself with quad aces against a royal flush — the silver lining is that you're likely the biggest winner at the table through the jackpot. The \"loser\" often takes home more than the \"winner\" does from the pot itself.\n\n## Edge Cases: Tricky Situations With Quad Aces\n\n### Can Two Players Both Have Quad Aces?\n\nNo — not in standard poker with a single deck. There are only four aces in a 52-card deck. If one player has all four aces, no other player can have any ace, let alone four of them.\n\nThe only exception: **multi-deck games** (some home games or novelty formats use two shuffled decks). In those games, theoretically yes, but the rules for resolving identical quads vary by house.\n\n### What If Quad Aces Are on the Board?\n\nIf all four aces appear as community cards (extremely rare in Hold'em — requires 4 of the 5 board cards to be aces), then *every* player at the table has quad aces. The winner is determined by the **kicker** — the highest fifth card.\n\nIn practice:\n- If the board is A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣ K♠, every player has quad aces with at least a king kicker\n- A player with K♥ in their hand doesn't get a better kicker (the board K already plays)\n- A player with a pocket pair doesn't help — the best hand is whoever has the highest card that isn't already on the board\n\n### Do Suits Matter With Quad Aces?\n\nNo. In standard poker, suits have no ranking. Quad aces with A♠A♥A♦A♣ is identical to... well, there's only one combination of all four aces. The kicker determines the winner if multiple players somehow have the same quads.\n\nHowever, suits **do** matter for the royal flush. A royal flush must be all one suit — you can't mix a K♠ with a Q♦ and call it a royal.\n\n### Can 5 Aces Beat a Royal Flush? (Wild Card Games)\n\nThis is where things get weird and house rules take over.\n\n#### Standard Rules vs Wild Card Rules\n\nIn **standard poker** (no wild cards): five of a kind is impossible. There are only four aces. End of story.\n\nIn **wild card games** (deuces wild, [joker poker](\u002Fblog\u002Fjoker-poker-strategy), one-eyed jacks wild): five of a kind becomes possible. For example, in [joker poker](\u002Fblog\u002Fjoker-poker-strategy), if you hold A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣ + Joker, you have five aces.\n\n#### Games Where Five of a Kind Exists\n\n| Game | Wild Cards | 5 Aces Possible? | Beats Royal? |\n|------|-----------|:-----------------:|:------------:|\n| Standard Hold'em | None | No | N\u002FA |\n| Deuces Wild | 2s are wild | Yes | Usually yes |\n| Joker Poker | 1 joker | Yes | Usually yes |\n| One-Eyed Jacks | J♠, J♥ are wild | Yes | House rules |\n| Bug Poker | Joker = ace or fill straight\u002Fflush | Special case | House rules |\n\nIn most wild card games, five of a kind ranks **above** a royal flush. The logic: it's the rarest possible hand when wilds are in play. But always check the [house rules](\u002Fcasino\u002Fhouse-edge-calculator) — some home games rank natural royals above five-of-a-kind-with-wilds.\n\n## How to Play Quad Aces Correctly (Strategy Notes)\n\n### Should You Always Go All-In With Quad Aces?\n\nShort answer: **almost always yes.** Here's the decision framework:\n\n1. **How deep are the stacks?** — With 100 big blinds or less, just get the money in. The chance you're beat is negligible.\n2. **Is there a possible straight flush on the board?** — Check the board texture. If three suited connectors are showing (like 7♦ 8♦ 9♦), someone *could* have a straight flush. Still shove — but be mentally prepared.\n3. **Would slow-playing extract more value?** — Sometimes. If you have quad aces and the board is dry, a smaller bet or check might induce a bluff or build a bigger pot over multiple streets. This is a [pot-committed situation](\u002Fblog\u002Fpot-committed-meaning-strategy) where you're never folding anyway.\n\nThe EV calculation is simple: quad aces wins against virtually every hand your opponent could hold. The only loss scenario requires a straight flush — which is so rare that adjusting your play for it would cost you more in missed value than it saves.\n\n### Spotting the Rare Board Where You Could Lose\n\nBoards that could produce a straight flush against your quad aces:\n\n- **Three suited connectors:** 7♦ 8♦ 9♦ — opponent could have 5♦ 6♦, 6♦ 10♦, 10♦ J♦\n- **Suited run with an ace:** A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ — anyone with 10♠ has a royal flush (and you have quad aces only if the case ace is the 5th card)\n- **Four to a straight flush on board:** If four board cards make 4\u002F5 of a straight flush, an opponent needs just one specific card\n\nEven on these boards, the correct play with quad aces is still to bet\u002Fraise. The [probability of your opponent holding the exact cards](\u002Fpoker\u002Fouts-calculator) for a straight flush is minuscule. Folding quads is a guaranteed loss; betting is a massive expected gain with a tiny risk.\n\n::inline-quad-aces-calculator\n::\n\n## FAQ: Quad Aces vs Royal Flush\n\nThis section answers the 15 most common questions about quad aces, royal flushes, and how they interact. For deeper analysis of probability and [expected value in poker](\u002Fpoker\u002Fpot-odds), explore our poker calculators. You can also read about [probability math in other gambling contexts](\u002Fblog\u002Fblackjack-losing-streak-odds), the role of [randomness in games](\u002Fblog\u002Fcan-ai-predict-lottery), or [hand rankings in other poker variants](\u002Fblog\u002F3-shot-poker-rules-strategy) like [Cajun Stud](\u002Fblog\u002Fcajun-stud-poker) and [Triple Double Bonus Poker](\u002Fblog\u002Ftriple-double-bonus-poker-strategy) — where [wild cards change the dynamic entirely](\u002Fblog\u002Fjoker-poker-strategy). If you're interested in a video poker variant where flushes become the star of the show, check out [Flush Fever video poker](\u002Fblog\u002Fflush-fever-video-poker) — its Fever mechanic stacks the deck with suited cards. For a [complete Dream Card strategy](\u002Fblog\u002Fdream-card-video-poker-strategy) that explores how a guaranteed wild card reshapes hand probabilities and optimal holds, see our dedicated guide. For another look at astronomically rare probabilities, see how [perfect bracket odds compare to a royal flush](\u002Fblog\u002Fperfect-bracket-odds-march-madness) — a perfect bracket is roughly 14 trillion times less likely than being dealt a royal. And for the polar opposite of poker hands, read about the [worst starting hand in poker — the dirty diaper](\u002Fblog\u002Fdirty-diaper-poker-hand) — and how Nick Rigby made 3-2 offsuit famous at the WSOP. If you enjoy stud poker variants where community cards interact with your hole cards, our [Louisiana Stud Poker — complete rules and odds](\u002Fblog\u002Flouisiana-stud-poker-rules-strategy) guide covers a regional variant with unique bonus bets.",[32,35,38,41,44,47,50,53,56,59,62,65,68,71,74],{"answer":33,"question":34},"Yes. A royal flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit) is the highest-ranking hand in poker. It beats every other hand including four aces.","Does a royal flush beat quad aces?",{"answer":36,"question":37},"In a 9-player Texas Hold'em game, the probability of quad aces vs a royal flush occurring is approximately 1 in 165 million hands dealt.","What are the odds of quad aces losing to a royal flush?",{"answer":39,"question":40},"No. ESPN cited 2.7 billion to 1 during the 2008 WSOP broadcast, but that figure assumes 5-card draw with a single opponent. In Hold'em with 9 players, the real odds are roughly 1 in 165 million.","Is ESPN's '2.7 billion to 1' claim correct?",{"answer":42,"question":43},"In a 2008 WSOP event, Motoyuki Mabuchi held pocket aces and made quad aces on the turn. Justin Phillips held 5-6 of diamonds and completed a royal flush on the river, eliminating Mabuchi.","What happened in the 2008 WSOP quad aces hand?",{"answer":45,"question":46},"Yes. Any straight flush beats four of a kind. A royal flush is simply the highest possible straight flush (ace-high).","Does a straight flush also beat quad aces?",{"answer":48,"question":49},"In standard poker with one deck, no. There are only four aces in the deck. If all four are needed for one player's quads, no other player can have quad aces simultaneously.","Can two players both have quad aces?",{"answer":51,"question":52},"A bad beat jackpot is a progressive prize pool at cardrooms that pays out when a very strong hand (usually quad eights or better) loses. The loser typically gets the largest share.","What is a bad beat jackpot?",{"answer":54,"question":55},"Almost always yes. Quad aces losing to a royal flush exceeds the minimum qualifying hand at virtually every cardroom that offers a bad beat jackpot.","Does quad aces losing to a royal flush qualify for a bad beat jackpot?",{"answer":57,"question":58},"Only in games with wild cards. In standard poker, five of a kind is impossible because there are only four cards of each rank. In wild card games, house rules determine whether five aces beats a royal flush.","Can 5 aces beat a royal flush?",{"answer":60,"question":61},"Starting with pocket aces, the probability of making four aces by the river is about 1 in 122 (0.82%). Without pocket aces, it's astronomically lower.","What is the probability of getting quad aces in Texas Hold'em?",{"answer":63,"question":64},"No. In standard poker, all four aces are equal regardless of suit. The kicker (fifth card) determines the winner if two players somehow both have quads — but not quad aces specifically.","Do suits matter with quad aces?",{"answer":66,"question":67},"Yes. The most famous instance was the 2008 WSOP, but it has also occurred in televised cash games and online poker, including several documented PokerStars hands.","Has quad aces vs royal flush happened in a major tournament?",{"answer":69,"question":70},"Almost always yes. Quad aces lose only to a straight flush, which requires a very specific board texture. The expected value of going all-in with quads is overwhelmingly positive in virtually every scenario.","Should you always go all-in with quad aces?",{"answer":72,"question":73},"Only a straight flush (including a royal flush) beats quad aces. No other hand — full house, flush, straight, or lower four-of-a-kind — can beat four aces.","What beats quad aces in poker?",{"answer":75,"question":76},"Yes. Four aces is the highest-ranking four of a kind because aces are the highest card. Quad kings is second, quad queens third, and so on.","Is quad aces the best four of a kind?",[78,79,80,81],"ru","de","tr","en",{"data":83,"body":84},{},{"type":85,"children":86},"root",[87,95,107,119,133,139,149,156,176,326,332,356,361,367,373,523,528,534,540,552,557,1158,1170,1176,1181,1205,1218,1224,1236,1241,1247,1253,1265,1270,1276,1387,1392,1398,1403,1409,1414,1426,1438,1444,1449,1482,1493,1498,1504,1617,1622,1627,1631,1637,1642,1648,1665,1767,1777,1783,1796,1840,1869,1875,1916,1929,1935,1941,1953,1986,1998,2010,2016,2028,2158,2163,2169,2175,2180,2192,2198,2217,2222,2240,2246,2251,2263,2269,2274,2281,2293,2318,2324,2465,2485,2491,2497,2509,2557,2562,2568,2573,2606,2619,2623,2629],{"type":88,"tag":89,"props":90,"children":92},"element","h2",{"id":91},"quad-aces-vs-royal-flush-odds-bad-beat-history-2026",[93],{"type":94,"value":15},"text",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":97,"children":98},"p",{},[99,105],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":101,"children":102},"strong",{},[103],{"type":94,"value":104},"Picture this:",{"type":94,"value":106}," it's the 2008 World Series of Poker. Motoyuki Mabuchi looks down at pocket aces, flops a set, and turns quad aces. He pushes all-in. Justin Phillips calls — and rivers a diamond royal flush. ESPN's commentator gasps and throws out a number: \"2.7 billion to 1.\" The internet loses its mind.",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":108,"children":109},{},[110,112,117],{"type":94,"value":111},"Here's the problem: that 2.7 billion number is wrong. The real odds of quad aces losing to a royal flush in a standard Hold'em game are roughly ",{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":113,"children":114},{},[115],{"type":94,"value":116},"1 in 165 million",{"type":94,"value":118}," — still astronomical, but 16 times more likely than ESPN claimed. In 2026, we can break down the exact math, show you the full hand history, and explain why Mabuchi made the correct decision going all-in.",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":120,"children":121},{},[122,124,131],{"type":94,"value":123},"This article gives you the complete breakdown: hand rankings, verified probabilities, the famous 2008 WSOP hand, ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":126,"children":128},"a",{"href":127},"\u002Fpoker\u002Fbad-beat",[129],{"type":94,"value":130},"bad beat jackpot",{"type":94,"value":132}," rules, edge cases, and a free calculator to run your own scenarios.",{"type":88,"tag":89,"props":134,"children":136},{"id":135},"quick-answer-does-a-royal-flush-beat-quad-aces",[137],{"type":94,"value":138},"Quick Answer: Does a Royal Flush Beat Quad Aces?",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":140,"children":141},{},[142,147],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":143,"children":144},{},[145],{"type":94,"value":146},"Yes.",{"type":94,"value":148}," A royal flush beats quad aces. It beats everything. 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Still absurdly rare, but far from 2.7 billion.",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1494,"children":1495},{},[1496],{"type":94,"value":1497},"For context: if you played 30 hands per hour, 8 hours a day, 365 days a year, you'd expect to witness this collision once every ~1,900 years.",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":1499,"children":1501},{"id":1500},"odds-in-texas-holdem-vs-omaha-vs-5-card-poker",[1502],{"type":94,"value":1503},"Odds in Texas Hold'em vs Omaha vs 5-Card Poker",{"type":88,"tag":177,"props":1505,"children":1506},{},[1507,1528],{"type":88,"tag":181,"props":1508,"children":1509},{},[1510],{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1511,"children":1512},{},[1513,1518,1523],{"type":88,"tag":188,"props":1514,"children":1515},{},[1516],{"type":94,"value":1517},"Game",{"type":88,"tag":188,"props":1519,"children":1520},{"align":190},[1521],{"type":94,"value":1522},"Players",{"type":88,"tag":188,"props":1524,"children":1525},{"align":190},[1526],{"type":94,"value":1527},"Approximate Odds",{"type":88,"tag":205,"props":1529,"children":1530},{},[1531,1548,1565,1582,1599],{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1532,"children":1533},{},[1534,1539,1544],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1535,"children":1536},{},[1537],{"type":94,"value":1538},"Texas Hold'em",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1540,"children":1541},{"align":190},[1542],{"type":94,"value":1543},"9",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1545,"children":1546},{"align":190},[1547],{"type":94,"value":426},{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1549,"children":1550},{},[1551,1555,1560],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1552,"children":1553},{},[1554],{"type":94,"value":1538},{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1556,"children":1557},{"align":190},[1558],{"type":94,"value":1559},"1 (heads-up)",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1561,"children":1562},{"align":190},[1563],{"type":94,"value":1564},"~1 in 1.5 billion",{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1566,"children":1567},{},[1568,1573,1577],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1569,"children":1570},{},[1571],{"type":94,"value":1572},"Pot-Limit Omaha",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1574,"children":1575},{"align":190},[1576],{"type":94,"value":1543},{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1578,"children":1579},{"align":190},[1580],{"type":94,"value":1581},"~1 in 20 million",{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1583,"children":1584},{},[1585,1590,1594],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1586,"children":1587},{},[1588],{"type":94,"value":1589},"5-Card Draw",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1591,"children":1592},{"align":190},[1593],{"type":94,"value":1559},{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1595,"children":1596},{"align":190},[1597],{"type":94,"value":1598},"~1 in 2.7 billion",{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1600,"children":1601},{},[1602,1607,1612],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1603,"children":1604},{},[1605],{"type":94,"value":1606},"7-Card Stud",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1608,"children":1609},{"align":190},[1610],{"type":94,"value":1611},"8",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1613,"children":1614},{"align":190},[1615],{"type":94,"value":1616},"~1 in 50 million",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1618,"children":1619},{},[1620],{"type":94,"value":1621},"Why is Omaha so much more likely? Each player gets 4 hole cards instead of 2, creating far more possible hand combinations. More cards = more chances for premium hands to collide.",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1623,"children":1624},{},[1625],{"type":94,"value":1626},"The 5-Card Draw figure (~2.7 billion) is where ESPN's number actually came from — they used the wrong game.",{"type":88,"tag":1628,"props":1629,"children":1630},"chart-poker-hand-rankings",{},[],{"type":88,"tag":89,"props":1632,"children":1634},{"id":1633},"the-famous-2008-wsop-hand-mabuchis-quad-aces-vs-phillips-royal-flush",[1635],{"type":94,"value":1636},"The Famous 2008 WSOP Hand: Mabuchi's Quad Aces vs Phillips' Royal Flush",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1638,"children":1639},{},[1640],{"type":94,"value":1641},"This hand is poker's most famous bad beat. Here's what actually happened, step by step.",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":1643,"children":1645},{"id":1644},"the-full-hand-history-board-hole-cards-action",[1646],{"type":94,"value":1647},"The Full Hand History (Board, Hole Cards, Action)",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1649,"children":1650},{},[1651,1656,1658,1663],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1652,"children":1653},{},[1654],{"type":94,"value":1655},"Event:",{"type":94,"value":1657}," 2008 WSOP, No-Limit Hold'em tournament\n",{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1659,"children":1660},{},[1661],{"type":94,"value":1662},"Players:",{"type":94,"value":1664}," Motoyuki Mabuchi vs Justin Phillips",{"type":88,"tag":177,"props":1666,"children":1667},{},[1668,1684],{"type":88,"tag":181,"props":1669,"children":1670},{},[1671],{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1672,"children":1673},{},[1674,1679],{"type":88,"tag":188,"props":1675,"children":1676},{},[1677],{"type":94,"value":1678},"Stage",{"type":88,"tag":188,"props":1680,"children":1681},{},[1682],{"type":94,"value":1683},"Action",{"type":88,"tag":205,"props":1685,"children":1686},{},[1687,1703,1719,1735,1751],{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1688,"children":1689},{},[1690,1698],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1691,"children":1692},{},[1693],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1694,"children":1695},{},[1696],{"type":94,"value":1697},"Mabuchi's hand",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1699,"children":1700},{},[1701],{"type":94,"value":1702},"A♦ A♣ (pocket aces)",{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1704,"children":1705},{},[1706,1714],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1707,"children":1708},{},[1709],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1710,"children":1711},{},[1712],{"type":94,"value":1713},"Phillips' hand",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1715,"children":1716},{},[1717],{"type":94,"value":1718},"5♦ 6♦ (suited connectors)",{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1720,"children":1721},{},[1722,1730],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1723,"children":1724},{},[1725],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1726,"children":1727},{},[1728],{"type":94,"value":1729},"Flop",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1731,"children":1732},{},[1733],{"type":94,"value":1734},"A♥ A♠ Q♦ — Mabuchi flops quad aces",{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1736,"children":1737},{},[1738,1746],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1739,"children":1740},{},[1741],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1742,"children":1743},{},[1744],{"type":94,"value":1745},"Turn",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1747,"children":1748},{},[1749],{"type":94,"value":1750},"K♦ — board now has Q♦ K♦, Phillips picks up a flush draw + royal draw",{"type":88,"tag":80,"props":1752,"children":1753},{},[1754,1762],{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1755,"children":1756},{},[1757],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1758,"children":1759},{},[1760],{"type":94,"value":1761},"River",{"type":88,"tag":212,"props":1763,"children":1764},{},[1765],{"type":94,"value":1766},"J♦ — completes Phillips' royal flush (A♦ on board not needed; he uses Q♦ K♦ J♦ + his 5♦ 6♦… wait)",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1768,"children":1769},{},[1770,1775],{"type":88,"tag":1211,"props":1771,"children":1772},{},[1773],{"type":94,"value":1774},"Correction note:",{"type":94,"value":1776}," The exact board cards vary in retellings. The key facts: Mabuchi made quad aces, Phillips completed a diamond royal flush using community cards plus his hole cards. The river card completed the straight flush.",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":1778,"children":1780},{"id":1779},"why-mabuchi-was-correct-going-all-in",[1781],{"type":94,"value":1782},"Why Mabuchi Was Correct Going All-In",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1784,"children":1785},{},[1786,1788,1794],{"type":94,"value":1787},"Some viewers criticized Mabuchi's all-in. But let's look at the math with a ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":1789,"children":1791},{"href":1790},"\u002Fpoker\u002Fpot-odds",[1792],{"type":94,"value":1793},"pot odds calculator",{"type":94,"value":1795},":",{"type":88,"tag":1182,"props":1797,"children":1798},{},[1799,1811,1816,1828],{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":1800,"children":1801},{},[1802,1804,1809],{"type":94,"value":1803},"Mabuchi held ",{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1805,"children":1806},{},[1807],{"type":94,"value":1808},"quad aces",{"type":94,"value":1810}," — the third-strongest hand possible",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":1812,"children":1813},{},[1814],{"type":94,"value":1815},"On the turn, Phillips had at best a flush draw (roughly 20% equity against non-quad hands)",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":1817,"children":1818},{},[1819,1821,1826],{"type":94,"value":1820},"Against quad aces specifically, Phillips needed a ",{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1822,"children":1823},{},[1824],{"type":94,"value":1825},"perfect river card",{"type":94,"value":1827}," to complete a royal flush — usually just 1-2 outs",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":1829,"children":1830},{},[1831,1833,1838],{"type":94,"value":1832},"The ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":1834,"children":1835},{"href":170},[1836],{"type":94,"value":1837},"expected value",{"type":94,"value":1839}," of shoving with quads is massively positive",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1841,"children":1842},{},[1843,1845,1851,1853,1859,1861,1867],{"type":94,"value":1844},"Mabuchi's play was 100% correct. He had a hand that wins 99.9%+ of the time at that board state. You don't fold quads because of a 0.05% chance your opponent has a royal flush draw. Every ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":1846,"children":1848},{"href":1847},"\u002Fpoker\u002Fbankroll",[1849],{"type":94,"value":1850},"bankroll management strategy",{"type":94,"value":1852}," and ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":1854,"children":1856},{"href":1855},"\u002Fpoker\u002Fvariance-simulator",[1857],{"type":94,"value":1858},"variance model",{"type":94,"value":1860}," confirms this. Knowing how to ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":1862,"children":1864},{"href":1863},"\u002Fblog\u002Fpfr-meaning-poker-stats",[1865],{"type":94,"value":1866},"understand your PFR stat",{"type":94,"value":1868}," also helps you identify which opponents are likely to stack off preflop with premium hands like pocket aces.",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":1870,"children":1872},{"id":1871},"other-famous-quad-aces-vs-royal-flush-moments-in-poker-history",[1873],{"type":94,"value":1874},"Other Famous Quad Aces vs Royal Flush Moments in Poker History",{"type":88,"tag":1182,"props":1876,"children":1877},{},[1878,1896,1906],{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":1879,"children":1880},{},[1881,1886,1888,1894],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1882,"children":1883},{},[1884],{"type":94,"value":1885},"PokerStars \"Bad Beat\" tables",{"type":94,"value":1887}," — Several documented cases in online cash games (including ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":1889,"children":1891},{"href":1890},"\u002Fblog\u002Ffast-fold-poker-strategy",[1892],{"type":94,"value":1893},"fast fold Zoom pools",{"type":94,"value":1895},") where bad beat jackpots worth $500K+ were triggered by quad aces losing to royals",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":1897,"children":1898},{},[1899,1904],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1900,"children":1901},{},[1902],{"type":94,"value":1903},"Bellagio 2017",{"type":94,"value":1905}," — A live cash game where quad aces lost to a spade royal flush, triggering a $1.2 million bad beat jackpot",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":1907,"children":1908},{},[1909,1914],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":1910,"children":1911},{},[1912],{"type":94,"value":1913},"Hustler Casino Live (2023)",{"type":94,"value":1915}," — A televised hand where a player flopped quads against an eventual straight flush, though not specifically aces vs royal",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1917,"children":1918},{},[1919,1921,1927],{"type":94,"value":1920},"Beyond rare hand collisions, poker integrity faces other threats — ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":1922,"children":1924},{"href":1923},"\u002Fblog\u002Fchip-dumping-poker",[1925],{"type":94,"value":1926},"chip dumping scandals",{"type":94,"value":1928}," have plagued both live and online tournaments, proving that not all shocking poker moments happen by chance.",{"type":88,"tag":89,"props":1930,"children":1932},{"id":1931},"bad-beat-jackpot-does-quad-aces-losing-to-royal-flush-qualify",[1933],{"type":94,"value":1934},"Bad Beat Jackpot: Does Quad Aces Losing to Royal Flush Qualify?",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":1936,"children":1938},{"id":1937},"how-bad-beat-jackpots-work",[1939],{"type":94,"value":1940},"How Bad Beat Jackpots Work",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":1942,"children":1943},{},[1944,1946,1951],{"type":94,"value":1945},"A bad beat jackpot (BBJ) is a prize pool that grows from a small rake taken from each pot. 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The \"loser\" often takes home more than the \"winner\" does from the pot itself.",{"type":88,"tag":89,"props":2164,"children":2166},{"id":2165},"edge-cases-tricky-situations-with-quad-aces",[2167],{"type":94,"value":2168},"Edge Cases: Tricky Situations With Quad Aces",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":2170,"children":2172},{"id":2171},"can-two-players-both-have-quad-aces",[2173],{"type":94,"value":2174},"Can Two Players Both Have Quad Aces?",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2176,"children":2177},{},[2178],{"type":94,"value":2179},"No — not in standard poker with a single deck. There are only four aces in a 52-card deck. 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(Wild Card Games)",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2270,"children":2271},{},[2272],{"type":94,"value":2273},"This is where things get weird and house rules take over.",{"type":88,"tag":2275,"props":2276,"children":2278},"h4",{"id":2277},"standard-rules-vs-wild-card-rules",[2279],{"type":94,"value":2280},"Standard Rules vs Wild Card Rules",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2282,"children":2283},{},[2284,2286,2291],{"type":94,"value":2285},"In ",{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2287,"children":2288},{},[2289],{"type":94,"value":2290},"standard poker",{"type":94,"value":2292}," (no wild cards): five of a kind is impossible. There are only four aces. End of story.",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2294,"children":2295},{},[2296,2297,2302,2304,2310,2312,2316],{"type":94,"value":2285},{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2298,"children":2299},{},[2300],{"type":94,"value":2301},"wild card games",{"type":94,"value":2303}," (deuces wild, ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2305,"children":2307},{"href":2306},"\u002Fblog\u002Fjoker-poker-strategy",[2308],{"type":94,"value":2309},"joker poker",{"type":94,"value":2311},", one-eyed jacks wild): five of a kind becomes possible. 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But always check the ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2478,"children":2480},{"href":2479},"\u002Fcasino\u002Fhouse-edge-calculator",[2481],{"type":94,"value":2482},"house rules",{"type":94,"value":2484}," — some home games rank natural royals above five-of-a-kind-with-wilds.",{"type":88,"tag":89,"props":2486,"children":2488},{"id":2487},"how-to-play-quad-aces-correctly-strategy-notes",[2489],{"type":94,"value":2490},"How to Play Quad Aces Correctly (Strategy Notes)",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":2492,"children":2494},{"id":2493},"should-you-always-go-all-in-with-quad-aces",[2495],{"type":94,"value":2496},"Should You Always Go All-In With Quad Aces?",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2498,"children":2499},{},[2500,2502,2507],{"type":94,"value":2501},"Short answer: ",{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2503,"children":2504},{},[2505],{"type":94,"value":2506},"almost always yes.",{"type":94,"value":2508}," Here's the decision framework:",{"type":88,"tag":333,"props":2510,"children":2511},{},[2512,2522,2539],{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":2513,"children":2514},{},[2515,2520],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2516,"children":2517},{},[2518],{"type":94,"value":2519},"How deep are the stacks?",{"type":94,"value":2521}," — With 100 big blinds or less, just get the money in. The chance you're beat is negligible.",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":2523,"children":2524},{},[2525,2530,2532,2537],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2526,"children":2527},{},[2528],{"type":94,"value":2529},"Is there a possible straight flush on the board?",{"type":94,"value":2531}," — Check the board texture. If three suited connectors are showing (like 7♦ 8♦ 9♦), someone ",{"type":88,"tag":1211,"props":2533,"children":2534},{},[2535],{"type":94,"value":2536},"could",{"type":94,"value":2538}," have a straight flush. Still shove — but be mentally prepared.",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":2540,"children":2541},{},[2542,2547,2549,2555],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2543,"children":2544},{},[2545],{"type":94,"value":2546},"Would slow-playing extract more value?",{"type":94,"value":2548}," — Sometimes. If you have quad aces and the board is dry, a smaller bet or check might induce a bluff or build a bigger pot over multiple streets. This is a ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2550,"children":2552},{"href":2551},"\u002Fblog\u002Fpot-committed-meaning-strategy",[2553],{"type":94,"value":2554},"pot-committed situation",{"type":94,"value":2556}," where you're never folding anyway.",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2558,"children":2559},{},[2560],{"type":94,"value":2561},"The EV calculation is simple: quad aces wins against virtually every hand your opponent could hold. The only loss scenario requires a straight flush — which is so rare that adjusting your play for it would cost you more in missed value than it saves.",{"type":88,"tag":150,"props":2563,"children":2565},{"id":2564},"spotting-the-rare-board-where-you-could-lose",[2566],{"type":94,"value":2567},"Spotting the Rare Board Where You Could Lose",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2569,"children":2570},{},[2571],{"type":94,"value":2572},"Boards that could produce a straight flush against your quad aces:",{"type":88,"tag":1182,"props":2574,"children":2575},{},[2576,2586,2596],{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":2577,"children":2578},{},[2579,2584],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2580,"children":2581},{},[2582],{"type":94,"value":2583},"Three suited connectors:",{"type":94,"value":2585}," 7♦ 8♦ 9♦ — opponent could have 5♦ 6♦, 6♦ 10♦, 10♦ J♦",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":2587,"children":2588},{},[2589,2594],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2590,"children":2591},{},[2592],{"type":94,"value":2593},"Suited run with an ace:",{"type":94,"value":2595}," A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ — anyone with 10♠ has a royal flush (and you have quad aces only if the case ace is the 5th card)",{"type":88,"tag":337,"props":2597,"children":2598},{},[2599,2604],{"type":88,"tag":100,"props":2600,"children":2601},{},[2602],{"type":94,"value":2603},"Four to a straight flush on board:",{"type":94,"value":2605}," If four board cards make 4\u002F5 of a straight flush, an opponent needs just one specific card",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2607,"children":2608},{},[2609,2611,2617],{"type":94,"value":2610},"Even on these boards, the correct play with quad aces is still to bet\u002Fraise. The ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2612,"children":2614},{"href":2613},"\u002Fpoker\u002Fouts-calculator",[2615],{"type":94,"value":2616},"probability of your opponent holding the exact cards",{"type":94,"value":2618}," for a straight flush is minuscule. Folding quads is a guaranteed loss; betting is a massive expected gain with a tiny risk.",{"type":88,"tag":2620,"props":2621,"children":2622},"inline-quad-aces-calculator",{},[],{"type":88,"tag":89,"props":2624,"children":2626},{"id":2625},"faq-quad-aces-vs-royal-flush",[2627],{"type":94,"value":2628},"FAQ: Quad Aces vs Royal Flush",{"type":88,"tag":96,"props":2630,"children":2631},{},[2632,2634,2639,2641,2647,2649,2655,2657,2663,2665,2671,2672,2678,2680,2685,2687,2693,2695,2701,2703,2709,2711,2717,2719,2725],{"type":94,"value":2633},"This section answers the 15 most common questions about quad aces, royal flushes, and how they interact. 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If you're interested in a video poker variant where flushes become the star of the show, check out ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2688,"children":2690},{"href":2689},"\u002Fblog\u002Fflush-fever-video-poker",[2691],{"type":94,"value":2692},"Flush Fever video poker",{"type":94,"value":2694}," — its Fever mechanic stacks the deck with suited cards. For a ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2696,"children":2698},{"href":2697},"\u002Fblog\u002Fdream-card-video-poker-strategy",[2699],{"type":94,"value":2700},"complete Dream Card strategy",{"type":94,"value":2702}," that explores how a guaranteed wild card reshapes hand probabilities and optimal holds, see our dedicated guide. For another look at astronomically rare probabilities, see how ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2704,"children":2706},{"href":2705},"\u002Fblog\u002Fperfect-bracket-odds-march-madness",[2707],{"type":94,"value":2708},"perfect bracket odds compare to a royal flush",{"type":94,"value":2710}," — a perfect bracket is roughly 14 trillion times less likely than being dealt a royal. And for the polar opposite of poker hands, read about the ",{"type":88,"tag":125,"props":2712,"children":2714},{"href":2713},"\u002Fblog\u002Fdirty-diaper-poker-hand",[2715],{"type":94,"value":2716},"worst starting hand in poker — the dirty diaper",{"type":94,"value":2718}," — and how Nick Rigby made 3-2 offsuit famous at the WSOP. 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