The simplest algorithm for poker hand evaluation

Question

I am thinking about poker hand (5 cards) evaluation in Java. Now I am looking for simplicity and clarity rather than performance and efficiency. I probably can

Answer 1

If you just want to understand how it works here is simple algorithm:

HandStrength(ourcards,boardcards)
{
    ahead = tied = behind = 0
    ourrank = Rank(ourcards,boardcards)
    /* Consider all two-card combinations
    of the remaining cards. */
    for each case(oppcards)
    {
        opprank = Rank(oppcards,boardcards)
        if(ourrank>opprank)
            ahead += 1
        else if(ourrank==opprank)
            tied += 1
        else /* < */
            behind += 1
    }
    handstrength = (ahead+tied/2) / (ahead+tied+behind)
    return(handstrength)
}

It is from "ALGORITHMS AND ASSESSMENT IN COMPUTER POKER" by Darse Billings.