Hello there, I'm a seasoned poker enthusiast with a deep understanding of the game's intricacies. When it comes to the question of what beats three aces in poker, it's crucial to understand the hierarchy of poker hands.

In standard poker games, the highest possible hand is a royal flush, which is a straight flush from ten to ace, all of the same suit. This hand is unbeatable and will beat any other hand, including three aces. However, if we're strictly talking about what can beat three aces, we need to consider the specific game variant and the rules in play.

In Texas Hold'em, for instance, the best possible hand that can beat three aces is a full house where the three of a kind is higher than an ace. For example, three kings with a pair of aces would beat three aces with a pair of twos. Another hand that could beat three aces is a straight flush, which is a sequence of five consecutive cards of the same suit. If the sequence includes a king, queen, jack, ten, and nine, for example, it would beat three aces.

Now, let's talk about the wheel or bicycle straight, which is mentioned in the reference material. This is a specific type of straight that includes the ace as the lowest card, making it A-2-3-4-5. This is the only time an ace is considered to be a low card rather than a high card. While a wheel straight is a strong hand, it is not the highest possible hand and would not beat three aces.

In Omaha Hi-Lo, also known as Omaha Eight-or-Better, there's a unique situation where a low hand can be the winning hand. If the pot is split between the high and low, a low hand consisting of five cards all lower than eight (A-2-3-4-5) could win the low half of the pot. However, this does not mean it beats three aces in terms of a high hand; it simply means there's an additional way to win in this particular variant.

It's also important to note that in community card poker games, the strength of a player's hand is determined by the combination of their hole cards and the community cards on the table. So, even if a player has three aces, if the community cards form a higher-ranking hand for another player, such as a straight flush or a full house with a higher three of a kind, then three aces would be beaten.

In summary, the hands that can beat three aces include:
- A full house with a three of a kind higher than aces.
- A straight flush.
- In Omaha Hi-Lo, a low hand could win the low half of the pot, but it does not beat three aces as a high hand.

Remember, the key to poker is not just knowing the rankings of hands but also understanding the dynamics of the game, including betting strategies, player psychology, and the odds of making certain hands.

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A-2-3-4-5 is considered a five-high straight, and it is called a wheel or bicycle; this is the only time an ace plays as a low card. ... Higher cards always beat lower cards, for example, a pair of aces beats a pair of kings, and a flush with a king beats a flush whose highest card is a Queen.read more >>