The teaching convention used here
For these examples only, reverse the classic category order: an ordinary high-card hand is preferred to a pair, and a pair is preferred to a colour. Within an unpaired high-card category, compare the highest card first, with the lower value preferred. Compare the next card only if needed.
This is an explicit teaching convention, not a claim about every Muflis table. Treatment of aces, runs, colours, ties and special hands must be written down before playing.
Worked example: two unpaired hands
Hand A: 8♠ 5♥ 2♣. Hand B: 9♦ 4♣ 3♥. Neither is a pair, colour or run. Compare the highest card: eight against nine. Under the low-card convention above, Hand A is preferred. The two in Hand A is not compared first.
Change Hand B to 8♦ 6♣ 3♥. The eights now tie, so compare five against six. Hand A is still preferred. This is the same lexicographic comparison method as high-card play, but with the direction reversed.
Category reversal changes the question
Compare 9♠ 6♥ 3♣ with 2♠ 2♥ 4♦ under the stated full-category reversal. The unpaired hand is preferred to the pair before any individual ranks are compared. It is incorrect to choose the pair merely because it contains twos.
A rule set that reverses only some comparisons needs a different explanation. That is why the simple phrase “reverse everything” can cause disputes unless it defines aces, sequences and wild cards.
Try it on paper
- Use no financial stakes or redeemable counters.
- Write the exact low-hand convention at the top of the page.
- Choose two non-sequential, mixed-suit hands without aces.
- Compare the category, then the highest relevant rank.
- Add aces or special hands only after agreeing how they work.
Do not use the classic comparator to score Muflis. It intentionally reports the high-hand order. A visibly separate worked example prevents the tool from teaching the wrong rule.