Trail and pure sequence
A Trail contains three cards of one rank and normally sits at the top. A Pure Sequence contains three consecutive cards of one suit.
Sequence and colour
A Sequence uses consecutive ranks in mixed suits. A Colour uses one suit without consecutive ranks. Sequence beats Colour.
Pair and high card
A Pair contains two cards of one rank. High Card is used when no stronger category is present.
Tie questions
Tables can differ on A-K-Q, A-2-3 and same-category comparisons. Read the room's rule panel before assuming a tie order.
1. Trail or Trio
Three cards of one rank, such as A-A-A, K-K-K or 5-5-5. A higher trio usually beats a lower trio.
2. Pure Sequence
Three consecutive ranks in one suit, such as A♠-K♠-Q♠ or 6♦-5♦-4♦. Special treatment of A-2-3 varies.
3. Sequence
Three consecutive ranks in mixed suits. It beats Colour, Pair and High Card but loses to Trail and Pure Sequence.
4. Colour
Three cards in one suit without a sequence. Compare the highest card first when two Colours meet, subject to the room's tie rule.
5. Pair
Two cards of one rank and one side card. Compare the pair rank before the side card.
6. High Card
A hand with no category above. Compare cards from highest to lowest until the tie is resolved or the table applies its tie rule.
A quick self-test
Which is stronger: 9-8-7 in mixed suits or A-J-6 in one suit? The mixed-suit Sequence wins because Sequence ranks above Colour. Practising comparisons like this is more useful than memorising slogans.
How to compare without guessing
Start by naming each category. Only when both hands share a category should you compare card ranks. This prevents the common mistake of letting a high ace distract from a lower-ranked category such as High Card or Colour.
Use sample hands away from a live round: compare category, compare the important rank, then check the room's special sequence and tie rules. Repeating that order builds a dependable habit without pretending that it predicts the next deal.
Write down the room's special cases
A compact note with the room's A-K-Q, A-2-3 and tie treatment prevents memory from one table being carried into another. The category ladder can stay the same while these edge cases differ.
When a result surprises you, compare the published room rule with the cards shown. Do not rewrite the hand ladder from a single outcome without first checking whether a variation or tie rule was active.