diff --git a/examples/simgame/main.go b/examples/simgame/main.go
index 5396913..ee6b3d9 100644
--- a/examples/simgame/main.go
+++ b/examples/simgame/main.go
@@ -7,74 +7,148 @@ import (
 	"git.eeqj.de/sneak/pokercore"
 )
 
+// just like on tv
+var delayTime = 2 * time.Second
+var playerCount = 8
+
+type Player struct {
+	Hand                    pokercore.Cards
+	ScoredHand              *pokercore.PokerHand
+	Position                int
+	CommunityCardsAvailable pokercore.Cards
+}
+
+type Game struct {
+	Deck      *pokercore.Deck
+	Players   []*Player
+	Community pokercore.Cards
+	Street    int
+}
+
+func NewGame(seed int) *Game {
+	g := &Game{}
+	g.Street = 0
+	g.Deck = pokercore.NewDeck()
+	g.SpreadCards()
+	fmt.Printf("Shuffle up and deal!\n")
+	time.Sleep(delayTime)
+	fmt.Printf("Shuffling...\n")
+	g.Deck.ShuffleDeterministically(3141592653)
+	return g
+}
+
+func (g *Game) StreetAsString() string {
+	switch g.Street {
+	case 0:
+		return "pre-flop"
+	case 1:
+		return "flop"
+	case 2:
+		return "turn"
+	case 3:
+		return "river"
+	}
+	return "unknown"
+}
+
+func (g *Game) SpreadCards() {
+	fmt.Printf("deck before shuffling: %s\n", g.Deck.FormatForTerminal())
+}
+
+func (g *Game) DealPlayersIn() {
+	for i := 0; i < playerCount; i++ {
+		p := Player{Hand: g.Deck.Deal(2), Position: i + 1}
+		g.Players = append(g.Players, &p)
+	}
+}
+
+func (g *Game) ShowGameStatus() {
+	fmt.Printf("Street: %s\n", g.StreetAsString())
+	fmt.Printf("Community cards: %s\n", g.Community.FormatForTerminal())
+	for _, p := range g.Players {
+		if p != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("Player %d: %s\n", p.Position, p.Hand.FormatForTerminal())
+			if g.Street > 0 {
+				ac := append(p.Hand, g.Community...)
+				ph, err := ac.PokerHand()
+				if err != nil {
+					panic(err)
+				}
+				fmt.Printf("Player %d has %s\n", p.Position, ph.Description())
+				fmt.Printf("Player %d Score: %d\n", p.Position, ph.Score)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (g *Game) DealFlop() {
+	g.Community = g.Deck.Deal(3)
+	g.Street = 1
+}
+
+func (g *Game) DealTurn() {
+	g.Community = append(g.Community, g.Deck.Deal(1)...)
+	g.Street = 2
+}
+
+func (g *Game) DealRiver() {
+	g.Community = append(g.Community, g.Deck.Deal(1)...)
+	g.Street = 3
+}
+
+func (g *Game) ShowWinner() {
+	var winner *Player
+	var winningHand *pokercore.PokerHand
+	for _, p := range g.Players {
+		if p != nil {
+			ac := append(p.Hand, g.Community...)
+			ph, err := ac.PokerHand()
+			if err != nil {
+				panic(err)
+			}
+			if winner == nil {
+				winner = p
+				winningHand = ph
+			} else {
+				if ph.Score > winningHand.Score {
+					winner = p
+					winningHand = ph
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("Winner: Player %d with %s.\n", winner.Position, winningHand.Description())
+}
+
 func main() {
 
-	sleepTime := 2 * time.Second
-	playerCount := 8
-	d := pokercore.NewDeck()
-	fmt.Printf("deck before shuffling: %s\n", d.FormatForTerminal())
 	// this "randomly chosen" seed somehow deals pocket queens, pocket kings, and pocket aces to three players.
 	// what are the odds? lol
-	d.ShuffleDeterministically(1337)
-	fmt.Printf("deck after shuffling: %s\n", d.FormatForTerminal())
-	var players []pokercore.Cards
-	for i := 0; i < playerCount; i++ {
-		players = append(players, d.Deal(2))
-	}
-	for i, p := range players {
-		fmt.Printf("player %d: %s\n", i+1, p.FormatForTerminal())
-	}
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	//g := NewGame(1337))
 
-	fmt.Printf("##############################################\n")
-	// deal the flop
-	var community pokercore.Cards
-	community = d.Deal(3)
-	fmt.Printf("flop: %s\n", community.FormatForTerminal())
-	time.Sleep(sleepTime)
+	// nothing up my sleeve:
+	g := NewGame(3141592653)
 
-	fmt.Printf("##############################################\n")
-	turn := d.Deal(1)
-	fmt.Printf("turn: %s\n", turn.FormatForTerminal())
-	community = append(community, turn...)
-	fmt.Printf("board is now: %s\n", community.FormatForTerminal())
+	g.ShowGameStatus()
 
-	time.Sleep(sleepTime)
+	g.DealPlayersIn()
 
-	fmt.Printf("##############################################\n")
-	river := d.Deal(1)
-	fmt.Printf("river: %s\n", river.FormatForTerminal())
-	community = append(community, river...)
-	fmt.Printf("board is now: %s\n", community.FormatForTerminal())
+	g.ShowGameStatus()
+
+	g.DealFlop()
+
+	g.ShowGameStatus()
+
+	g.DealTurn()
+
+	g.ShowGameStatus()
+
+	g.DealRiver()
+
+	g.ShowGameStatus()
+
+	g.ShowWinner()
 
-	fmt.Printf("##############################################\n")
-	var winningPlayer int
-	var winningHand *pokercore.PokerHand
-	for i, p := range players {
-		fmt.Printf("player %d: %s\n", i+1, p.FormatForTerminal())
-		playerCards, err := p.Append(community).IdentifyBestFiveCardPokerHand()
-		if err != nil {
-			panic("error evaluating hand: " + err.Error())
-		}
-		ph, err := playerCards.PokerHand()
-		if err != nil {
-			panic("error evaluating hand: " + err.Error())
-		}
-		fmt.Printf("player %d has a %s\n", i+1, ph.Description())
-		if winningHand == nil {
-			winningPlayer = i
-			winningHand = ph
-			continue
-		}
-		if ph.Score > winningHand.Score {
-			winningPlayer = i
-			winningHand = ph
-		}
-	}
-	fmt.Printf("##############################################\n")
-	fmt.Printf("player %d wins with %s\n", winningPlayer+1, winningHand.Description())
-	fmt.Printf("##############################################\n")
 	fmt.Printf("What a strange game.  The only winning move is to bet really big.\n")
 	fmt.Printf("Insert coin to play again.\n")
-
 }
diff --git a/handhelpers.go b/handhelpers.go
index 23fe752..386a703 100644
--- a/handhelpers.go
+++ b/handhelpers.go
@@ -1,34 +1,5 @@
 package pokercore
 
-func (c Cards) scoreStraightFlush() HandScore {
-	if !c.containsStraightFlush() {
-		panic("hand must be a straight flush to score it")
-	}
-	return ScoreStraightFlush + 1000*c.HighestRank().Score()
-}
-
-func (c Cards) scoreFlush() HandScore {
-	if !c.containsFlush() {
-		panic("hand must be a flush to score it")
-	}
-	var score HandScore
-	for _, card := range c {
-		score += card.Rank.Score()
-	}
-	return ScoreFlush + score
-}
-
-func (c Cards) scoreHighCard() HandScore {
-	if !c.isUnmadeHand() {
-		panic("hand must be a high card to score it")
-	}
-	var score HandScore
-	for _, card := range c {
-		score += card.Rank.Score()
-	}
-	return ScoreHighCard + score
-}
-
 func (c Cards) pairRank() Rank {
 	if !c.containsPair() {
 		panic("hand must have a pair to have a pair rank")
diff --git a/pokerhand.go b/pokerhand.go
index eed5969..2779dcf 100644
--- a/pokerhand.go
+++ b/pokerhand.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package pokercore
 
-import "fmt"
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+)
 
 type PokerHandType int
 
@@ -28,93 +31,118 @@ func (c Cards) Append(other Cards) Cards {
 }
 
 func (c Cards) PokerHand() (*PokerHand, error) {
-	if len(c) != 5 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("hand must have 5 cards to be scored as a poker hand")
-	}
 	if c.containsDuplicates() {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("hand must have no duplicates to be scored as a poker hand")
+		return nil, errors.New("hand must have no duplicates to be scored as a poker hand")
+	}
+	if len(c) < 5 {
+		return nil, errors.New("hand must have at least 5 cards to be scored as a poker hand")
+	}
+
+	phc, err := c.IdentifyBestFiveCardPokerHand()
+	if err != nil {
+		// this should in theory never happen
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	ph := new(PokerHand)
-	ph.Hand = c
-	if c.containsRoyalFlush() {
+	ph.Hand = phc.SortByRankAscending()
+	if ph.Hand.containsRoyalFlush() {
 		ph.Type = RoyalFlush
 		ph.Score = ScoreRoyalFlush
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsStraightFlush() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsStraightFlush() {
 		ph.Type = StraightFlush
-		ph.Score = ph.Hand.scoreStraightFlush()
+		ph.Score = ScoreStraightFlush
+		ph.Score += 1000 * ph.Hand.HighestRank().Score()
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsFourOfAKind() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsFourOfAKind() {
 		ph.Type = FourOfAKind
-		ph.Score = ScoreFourOfAKind + 1000*c.fourOfAKindRank().Score() + c.fourOfAKindKicker().Score()
+		ph.Score = ScoreFourOfAKind
+		ph.Score += 1000 * ph.Hand.fourOfAKindRank().Score()
+		ph.Score += 100 * ph.Hand.fourOfAKindKicker().Score()
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsFullHouse() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsFullHouse() {
 		ph.Type = FullHouse
-		ph.Score = ScoreFullHouse + 1000*c.fullHouseTripsRank().Score() + c.fullHousePairRank().Score()
+		ph.Score = ScoreFullHouse
+		// FIXME write a good test for this
+		ph.Score += 1000 * ph.Hand.fullHouseTripsRank().Score()
+		ph.Score += 100 * ph.Hand.fullHousePairRank().Score()
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsFlush() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsFlush() {
 		ph.Type = Flush
-		ph.Score = c.scoreFlush()
+		ph.Score = ScoreFlush
+		// flush base score plus sum of card ranks
+		ph.Score += ph.Hand[0].Score()
+		ph.Score += ph.Hand[1].Score()
+		ph.Score += ph.Hand[2].Score()
+		ph.Score += ph.Hand[3].Score()
+		ph.Score += ph.Hand[4].Score()
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsStraight() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsStraight() {
 		ph.Type = Straight
+		ph.Score = ScoreStraight
 
 		// Straights are scored by the highest card in the straight
 		// UNLESS the second highest card is a 5 and the highest card is an Ace
 		// In that case, the straight is a 5-high straight, not an Ace-high straight
-		sorted := c.SortByRankAscending()
+		sorted := ph.Hand.SortByRankAscending()
 
 		if sorted[3].Rank == FIVE && sorted[4].Rank == ACE {
-			// 5-high straight
-			ph.Score = ScoreStraight + 1000*sorted[3].Score()
+			// 5-high straight, scored by the five's rank
+			ph.Score += sorted[3].Score()
 		} else {
-			// All other straights
-			ph.Score = ScoreStraight + 1000*sorted[4].Score()
+			// All other straights are scored by the highest card in the straight
+			ph.Score += sorted[4].Score()
 		}
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsThreeOfAKind() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsThreeOfAKind() {
 		ph.Type = ThreeOfAKind
 		ph.Score = ScoreThreeOfAKind
-		ph.Score += 1000 * c.threeOfAKindTripsRank().Score()
-		ph.Score += 100 * c.threeOfAKindFirstKicker().Score()
-		ph.Score += 10 * c.threeOfAKindSecondKicker().Score()
+		ph.Score += 1000 * ph.Hand.threeOfAKindTripsRank().Score()
+		ph.Score += 100 * ph.Hand.threeOfAKindFirstKicker().Score()
+		ph.Score += 10 * ph.Hand.threeOfAKindSecondKicker().Score()
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsTwoPair() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsTwoPair() {
 		ph.Type = TwoPair
 		ph.Score = ScoreTwoPair
-		ph.Score += 1000 * c.twoPairBiggestPair().Score()
-		ph.Score += 100 * c.twoPairSmallestPair().Score()
-		ph.Score += 10 * c.twoPairKicker().Score()
+		ph.Score += 1000 * ph.Hand.twoPairBiggestPair().Score()
+		ph.Score += 100 * ph.Hand.twoPairSmallestPair().Score()
+		ph.Score += 10 * ph.Hand.twoPairKicker().Score()
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
-	if c.containsPair() {
+	if ph.Hand.containsPair() {
 		ph.Type = Pair
 		ph.Score = ScorePair
-		ph.Score += 1000 * c.pairRank().Score()
-		ph.Score += 100 * c.pairFirstKicker().Score()
-		ph.Score += 10 * c.pairSecondKicker().Score()
-		ph.Score += c.pairThirdKicker().Score()
+		ph.Score += 1000 * ph.Hand.pairRank().Score()
+		ph.Score += 100 * ph.Hand.pairFirstKicker().Score()
+		ph.Score += 10 * ph.Hand.pairSecondKicker().Score()
+		ph.Score += ph.Hand.pairThirdKicker().Score()
 		return ph, nil
 	}
 
 	ph.Type = HighCard
-	ph.Score = c.scoreHighCard()
+	ph.Score = ScoreHighCard // base score
+	// unmade hands are scored like flushes, just add up the values
+	ph.Score += ph.Hand[0].Score()
+	ph.Score += ph.Hand[1].Score()
+	ph.Score += ph.Hand[2].Score()
+	ph.Score += ph.Hand[3].Score()
+	ph.Score += ph.Hand[4].Score()
 	return ph, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/scoring.go b/scoring.go
index c33d90c..2bc26a7 100644
--- a/scoring.go
+++ b/scoring.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package pokercore
 
 import (
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 )
 
@@ -25,18 +24,13 @@ func (c Card) Score() HandScore {
 }
 
 func (c Cards) PokerHandScore() (HandScore, error) {
-	if len(c) != 5 {
-		return 0, errors.New("hand must have 5 cards to be scored as a poker hand")
-	}
 	ph, err := c.PokerHand()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
-
-	//fmt.Println(ph)
 	return ph.Score, nil
 }
+
 func (x HandScore) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("<HandScore %d>", x)
-	//return scoreToName(x)
 }
diff --git a/scoring_test.go b/scoring_test.go
index 011625b..febfd16 100644
--- a/scoring_test.go
+++ b/scoring_test.go
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ func TestAceLowStraight(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, hand.containsStraight(), "Expected hand to be a straight")
 	ph, err := hand.PokerHand()
 	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expected no error")
-	assert.Greater(t, ph.Score, 0, "Expected score to be nonzero 0")
+	assert.Greater(t, ph.Score, 0, "Expected score to be greater than 0")
 	assert.Less(t, ph.Score, 100000000000000000, "Expected score to be less than 100000000000000000")
-	assert.Equal(t, ph.Score, ScoreStraight+1000*FIVE.Score())
+	assert.Equal(t, ph.Score, ScoreStraight+FIVE.Score())
 	assert.Equal(t, ph.Description(), "a five high straight")
 	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank() == ACE, "Expected highest rank to be an ace")
 	assert.True(t, hand.SortByRankAscending().First().Rank == DEUCE, "Expected first card to be a deuce")
@@ -296,3 +296,54 @@ func TestTwoPairBug(t *testing.T) {
 	//fmt.Printf("PokerHand: %v+\n", ph)
 	//fmt.Printf("PH score: %d\n", ph.Score)
 }
+
+func TestScoringStructureQuads(t *testing.T) {
+	handA := Cards{
+		DeuceOfSpades(),
+		DeuceOfHearts(),
+		DeuceOfDiamonds(),
+		DeuceOfClubs(),
+		AceOfSpades(),
+	}
+
+	handB := Cards{
+		ThreeOfSpades(),
+		ThreeOfHearts(),
+		ThreeOfDiamonds(),
+		ThreeOfClubs(),
+		DeuceOfSpades(),
+	}
+
+	phA, err := handA.PokerHand()
+	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expected no error")
+	phB, err := handB.PokerHand()
+	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expected no error")
+	assert.Greater(t, phB.Score, phA.Score, "Expected hand B to be higher than hand A")
+}
+
+func TestScoringStructureFullHouse(t *testing.T) {
+	handA := Cards{
+		DeuceOfSpades(),
+		DeuceOfHearts(),
+		DeuceOfDiamonds(),
+		AceOfSpades(),
+		AceOfHearts(),
+	}
+
+	phA, err := handA.PokerHand()
+	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expected no error")
+	deucesFullOfAcesScore := phA.Score
+
+	handB := Cards{
+		ThreeOfSpades(),
+		ThreeOfHearts(),
+		ThreeOfDiamonds(),
+		DeuceOfSpades(),
+		DeuceOfHearts(),
+	}
+	phB, err := handB.PokerHand()
+	assert.Nil(t, err, "Expected no error")
+	threesFullOfDeucesScore := phB.Score
+
+	assert.Greater(t, threesFullOfDeucesScore, deucesFullOfAcesScore, "Expected Threes full of deuces to beat deuces full of aces")
+}