diff --git a/pokercore/findhand.go b/pokercore/findhand.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a69ec8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pokercore/findhand.go
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package pokercore
+
+import "errors"
+
+var ErrDuplicateCard = errors.New("cannot score a poker hand out of a set of cards with duplicates")
+
+// this method makes a n new hands where n is the number of cards in the hand
+// each of the new hands has one card removed from the original hand
+// then it calls the identifyBestFiveCardPokerHand method on each of the new hands
+// and returns the best hand by score.  this is recursion.
+func (hand Cards) identifyBestFiveCardPokerHand() (Cards, error) {
+	if hand.containsDuplicates() {
+		return nil, ErrDuplicateCard
+	}
+
+	newHands := make([]Cards, len(hand))
+	for i := 0; i < len(hand); i++ {
+		newHand := hand[:i]
+		newHand = append(newHand, hand[i+1:]...)
+		newHands[i] = newHand
+	}
+	var bestHand Cards
+	var bestScore HandScore
+
+	for _, h := range newHands {
+		if len(h) == 5 {
+			score, _ := h.PokerHandScore()
+			if score > bestScore {
+				bestScore = score
+				bestHand = h
+			}
+		} else {
+			rh, _ := h.identifyBestFiveCardPokerHand()
+			score, _ := rh.PokerHandScore()
+			if score > bestScore {
+				bestScore = score
+				bestHand = rh
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return bestHand, nil
+}
diff --git a/pokercore/handhelpers.go b/pokercore/handhelpers.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe51826
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pokercore/handhelpers.go
@@ -0,0 +1,436 @@
+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")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank {
+		return sorted[0].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		return sorted[1].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[2].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[3].Rank
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) pairFirstKicker() Card {
+	if !c.containsPair() {
+		panic("hand must have a pair to have a first kicker")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank {
+		return sorted[4]
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		return sorted[4]
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[4]
+	}
+	if sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[2]
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) pairSecondKicker() Card {
+	if !c.containsPair() {
+		panic("hand must have a pair to have a second kicker")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [4]
+		return sorted[3]
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [4]
+		return sorted[3]
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [4]
+		return sorted[1]
+	}
+	if sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [2]
+		return sorted[1]
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) pairThirdKicker() Card {
+	if !c.containsPair() {
+		panic("hand must have a pair to have a third kicker")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [4]
+		// second kicker is [3]
+		return sorted[2]
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [4]
+		// second kicker is [3]
+		return sorted[0]
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [4]
+		// second kicker is [1]
+		return sorted[0]
+	}
+	if sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		// first kicker is [2]
+		// second kicker is [1]
+		return sorted[0]
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) twoPairBiggestPair() Rank {
+	if !c.containsTwoPair() {
+		panic("hand must have two pair to have a biggest pair")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[2].Rank
+	}
+
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[0].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[1].Rank
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) twoPairSmallestPair() Rank {
+	if !c.containsTwoPair() {
+		panic("hand must have two pair to have a smallest pair")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[2].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[3].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[3].Rank
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) twoPairKicker() Card {
+	if !c.containsTwoPair() {
+		panic("hand must have two pair to have a twoPairKicker")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[4]
+	}
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[2]
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[0]
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) threeOfAKindTripsRank() Rank {
+	if !c.containsThreeOfAKind() {
+		panic("hand must have three of a kind to have a trips rank")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		return sorted[0].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[1].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[2].Rank
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) threeOfAKindKickers() Cards {
+	if !c.containsThreeOfAKind() {
+		panic("hand must have three of a kind to have kickers")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		return Cards{sorted[3], sorted[4]}
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return Cards{sorted[0], sorted[4]}
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return Cards{sorted[0], sorted[1]}
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) threeOfAKindFirstKicker() Card {
+	x := c.threeOfAKindKickers()
+	return x[0]
+}
+
+func (c Cards) threeOfAKindSecondKicker() Card {
+	x := c.threeOfAKindKickers()
+	return x[1]
+}
+
+func (c Cards) fourOfAKindRank() Rank {
+	if !c.containsFourOfAKind() {
+		panic("hand must have four of a kind to have a four of a kind rank")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[0].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[1].Rank
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) fourOfAKindKicker() Card {
+	if !c.containsFourOfAKind() {
+		panic("hand must have four of a kind to have a four of a kind kicker")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return sorted[4]
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[0]
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) fullHouseTripsRank() Rank {
+	if !c.containsFullHouse() {
+		panic("hand must have a full house to have a trips rank")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[0].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[4].Rank
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (c Cards) fullHousePairRank() Rank {
+	if !c.containsFullHouse() {
+		panic("hand must have a full house to have a pair rank")
+	}
+	sorted := c.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[4].Rank
+	}
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return sorted[0].Rank
+	}
+	panic("nope")
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsDuplicates() bool {
+	seen := make(map[Card]bool)
+	for _, card := range hand {
+		if _, ok := seen[card]; ok {
+			return true
+		}
+		seen[card] = true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) IsFiveCardPokerHand() bool {
+	return len(hand) == 5 && !hand.containsDuplicates()
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsFlush() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	suit := hand[0].Suit
+	for i := 1; i < len(hand); i++ {
+		if hand[i].Suit != suit {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsStraight() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	sorted := hand.SortByRank()
+
+	if sorted[4].Rank == ACE && sorted[3].Rank == FIVE {
+		// special case for A-5 straight
+		if sorted[0].Rank == DEUCE && sorted[1].Rank == THREE && sorted[2].Rank == FOUR {
+			return true
+		} else {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return sorted[0].Rank.Int()+1 == sorted[1].Rank.Int() &&
+		sorted[1].Rank.Int()+1 == sorted[2].Rank.Int() &&
+		sorted[2].Rank.Int()+1 == sorted[3].Rank.Int() &&
+		sorted[3].Rank.Int()+1 == sorted[4].Rank.Int()
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsStraightFlush() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	if hand.containsStraight() && hand.containsFlush() {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsRoyalFlush() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	if hand.containsStraightFlush() && hand.HighestRank() == ACE {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsFourOfAKind() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	sorted := hand.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		// the quads precede the kicker
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		// the kicker is the first card
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsFullHouse() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	sorted := hand.SortByRank()
+
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		// the trips precede the pair
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		// the pair is first
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsPair() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	sorted := hand.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsThreeOfAKind() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	sorted := hand.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) containsTwoPair() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	sorted := hand.SortByRank()
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (hand Cards) isUnmadeHand() bool {
+	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
+		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
+	}
+	return !hand.containsPair() && !hand.containsTwoPair() && !hand.containsThreeOfAKind() && !hand.containsStraight() && !hand.containsFlush() && !hand.containsFullHouse() && !hand.containsFourOfAKind() && !hand.containsStraightFlush() && !hand.containsRoyalFlush()
+}
diff --git a/pokercore/pokercore.go b/pokercore/pokercore.go
index 279b891..f0d8641 100644
--- a/pokercore/pokercore.go
+++ b/pokercore/pokercore.go
@@ -56,21 +56,19 @@ type Card struct {
 
 type Cards []Card
 
-func (r Rank) Int(x AcesHighOrLow) int {
-	return int(rankToScore(r, x))
+func (r Rank) Int() int {
+	return int(r.Score())
 }
 
-func (r Rank) HandScore(x AcesHighOrLow) HandScore {
-	return HandScore(r.Int(x))
+func (r Rank) HandScore() HandScore {
+	return HandScore(r.Int())
 }
 
-func (c Cards) SortByRank(x AcesHighOrLow) Cards {
-
+func (c Cards) SortByRank() Cards {
 	newCards := make(Cards, len(c))
 	copy(newCards, c)
-
 	sort.Slice(newCards, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return rankToScore(newCards[i].Rank, x) > rankToScore(newCards[j].Rank, x)
+		return newCards[i].Rank.Score() > newCards[j].Rank.Score()
 	})
 	return newCards
 }
@@ -125,8 +123,8 @@ func (c *Card) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s%s", string(c.Rank), string(c.Suit))
 }
 
-func (c Cards) HighestRank(x AcesHighOrLow) Rank {
-	c = c.SortByRank(x)
+func (c Cards) HighestRank() Rank {
+	c = c.SortByRank()
 	return c[0].Rank
 }
 
diff --git a/pokercore/pokerhand.go b/pokercore/pokerhand.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7b384d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pokercore/pokerhand.go
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+package pokercore
+
+import "fmt"
+
+type PokerHandType int
+
+const (
+	HighCard PokerHandType = iota
+	Pair
+	TwoPair
+	ThreeOfAKind
+	Straight
+	Flush
+	FullHouse
+	FourOfAKind
+	StraightFlush
+	RoyalFlush
+)
+
+type PokerHand struct {
+	Hand  Cards
+	Type  PokerHandType
+	Score HandScore
+}
+
+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")
+	}
+
+	ph := new(PokerHand)
+	ph.Hand = c
+	if c.containsRoyalFlush() {
+		ph.Type = RoyalFlush
+		ph.Score = ScoreRoyalFlush
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.containsStraightFlush() {
+		ph.Type = StraightFlush
+		ph.Score = ph.Hand.scoreStraightFlush()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.containsFourOfAKind() {
+		ph.Type = FourOfAKind
+		ph.Score = ScoreFourOfAKind + 1000*c.fourOfAKindRank().Score() + c.fourOfAKindKicker().Score()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.containsFullHouse() {
+		ph.Type = FullHouse
+		ph.Score = ScoreFullHouse + 1000*c.fullHouseTripsRank().Score() + c.fullHousePairRank().Score()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.containsFlush() {
+		ph.Type = Flush
+		ph.Score = c.scoreFlush()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.containsStraight() {
+		ph.Type = Straight
+		ph.Score = ScoreStraight + 1000*c.HighestRank().Score()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.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()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.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()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.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()
+		return ph, nil
+	}
+
+	ph.Type = HighCard
+	ph.Score = c.scoreHighCard()
+	return ph, nil
+}
+
+func (c PokerHand) HighestRank() Rank {
+	return c.Hand.HighestRank()
+}
+
+func (c PokerHand) String() string {
+	sortedHand := c.Hand.SortByRank()
+	if c.Type == RoyalFlush {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("a royal flush in %s", c.Hand[0].Suit)
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsStraightFlush() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s high straight flush in %s", c.HighestRank().WithArticle(), sortedHand[0].Suit)
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsFourOfAKind() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("four %s with %s", c.Hand.fourOfAKindRank().Pluralize(), c.Hand.fourOfAKindKicker().Rank.WithArticle())
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsFullHouse() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("a full house, %s full of %s", c.Hand.fullHouseTripsRank().Pluralize(), c.Hand.fullHousePairRank().Pluralize())
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsFlush() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s high flush in %s", c.HighestRank().WithArticle(), sortedHand[0].Suit)
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsStraight() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s high straight", c.HighestRank().WithArticle())
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsThreeOfAKind() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf(
+			"three %s with %s and %s",
+			c.Hand.threeOfAKindTripsRank().Pluralize(),
+			c.Hand.threeOfAKindFirstKicker().Rank.WithArticle(),
+			c.Hand.threeOfAKindSecondKicker().Rank.WithArticle(),
+		)
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsTwoPair() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf(
+			"two pair, %s and %s with %s",
+			c.Hand.twoPairBiggestPair().Pluralize(),
+			c.Hand.twoPairSmallestPair().Pluralize(),
+			c.Hand.twoPairKicker().Rank.WithArticle(),
+		)
+	}
+	if c.Hand.containsPair() {
+		return fmt.Sprintf(
+			"a pair of %s with %s, %s, and %s",
+			c.Hand.pairRank().Pluralize(),
+			c.Hand.pairFirstKicker().Rank.WithArticle(),
+			c.Hand.pairSecondKicker().Rank.WithArticle(),
+			c.Hand.pairThirdKicker().Rank.WithArticle(),
+		)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf(
+		// "ace high with an eight, a seven, a six, and a deuce"
+		"%s high with %s, %s, %s, and %s",
+		sortedHand[4].Rank,
+		sortedHand[3].Rank.WithArticle(),
+		sortedHand[2].Rank.WithArticle(),
+		sortedHand[1].Rank.WithArticle(),
+		sortedHand[0].Rank.WithArticle(),
+	)
+}
diff --git a/pokercore/scoring.go b/pokercore/scoring.go
index 8c0ed5b..06ae6ef 100644
--- a/pokercore/scoring.go
+++ b/pokercore/scoring.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import "fmt"
 type HandScore int
 
 const (
-	ScoreNoPair = HandScore(iota * 100_000_000_000)
+	ScoreHighCard = HandScore(iota * 100_000_000_000)
 	ScorePair
 	ScoreTwoPair
 	ScoreThreeOfAKind
@@ -14,23 +14,108 @@ const (
 	ScoreFullHouse
 	ScoreFourOfAKind
 	ScoreStraightFlush
+	ScoreRoyalFlush
 )
 
-type AcesHighOrLow int
+func (c Card) Score() HandScore {
+	return HandScore(c.Rank.Score())
+}
 
-const (
-	AcesHigh AcesHighOrLow = iota
-	AcesLow
-)
+func (c Cards) PokerHandScore() (HandScore, error) {
+	if len(c) != 5 {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("hand must have 5 cards to be scored as a poker hand")
+	}
+	ph, err := c.PokerHand()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
 
-func rankToScore(rank Rank, AcesHighOrLow AcesHighOrLow) HandScore {
-	switch rank {
+	fmt.Println(ph)
+	return ph.Score, nil
+}
+
+/*
+func scoreToName(x HandScore) string {
+	switch x {
+	case x >= ScoreRoyalFlush:
+		return "Royal Flush"
+	case x >= ScoreStraightFlush:
+		return "Straight Flush"
+	case x >= ScoreFourOfAKind:
+		return "Four of a Kind"
+	case x >= ScoreFullHouse:
+		return "Full House"
+	case x >= ScoreFlush:
+		return "Flush"
+	case x >= ScoreStraight:
+		return "Straight"
+	case x >= ScoreThreeOfAKind:
+		return "Three of a Kind"
+	case x >= ScoreTwoPair:
+		return "Two Pair"
+	case x >= ScorePair:
+		return "Pair"
+	case x >= ScoreHighCard:
+		return "High Card"
+	}
+}
+*/
+
+func (r Rank) Article() string {
+	switch r {
 	case ACE:
-		if AcesHighOrLow == AcesHigh {
-			return 14 // Aces are high, so we give them the highest value
-		} else {
-			return 1
-		}
+		return "an"
+	case EIGHT:
+		return "an"
+	default:
+		return "a"
+	}
+}
+
+func (r Rank) WithArticle() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", r.Article(), r)
+}
+
+func (r Rank) Pluralize() string {
+	switch r {
+	case ACE:
+		return "Aces"
+	case DEUCE:
+		return "Deuces"
+	case THREE:
+		return "Threes"
+	case FOUR:
+		return "Fours"
+	case FIVE:
+		return "Fives"
+	case SIX:
+		return "Sixes"
+	case SEVEN:
+		return "Sevens"
+	case EIGHT:
+		return "Eights"
+	case NINE:
+		return "Nines"
+	case TEN:
+		return "Tens"
+	case JACK:
+		return "Jacks"
+	case QUEEN:
+		return "Queens"
+	case KING:
+		return "Kings"
+	default:
+		panic("nope")
+	}
+}
+
+func (x HandScore) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("<HandScore %d>", x)
+	//return scoreToName(x)
+}
+
+func (r Rank) Score() HandScore {
+	switch r {
 	case DEUCE:
 		return 2
 	case THREE:
@@ -55,209 +140,8 @@ func rankToScore(rank Rank, AcesHighOrLow AcesHighOrLow) HandScore {
 		return 12
 	case KING:
 		return 13
-	default:
-		panic("nope")
+	case ACE:
+		return 14
 	}
-}
-
-func (c Cards) ScoreHand() (HandScore, error) {
-	if !c.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("hand must have 5 cards with no duplicates to be scored")
-	}
-	if c.containsRoyalFlush() {
-		return ScoreStraightFlush + 1000*ACE.HandScore(AcesHigh), nil
-	}
-	if c.containsStraightFlush() {
-		return ScoreStraightFlush + 1000*c.HighestRank(AcesHigh).HandScore(AcesHigh), nil
-	}
-
-	panic("not implemented")
-	// FIXME finish this
-	return 0, nil
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsDuplicates() bool {
-	seen := make(map[Card]bool)
-	for _, card := range hand {
-		if _, ok := seen[card]; ok {
-			return true
-		}
-		seen[card] = true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) IsFiveCardPokerHand() bool {
-	return len(hand) == 5 && !hand.containsDuplicates()
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsFlush() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	suit := hand[0].Suit
-	for i := 1; i < len(hand); i++ {
-		if hand[i].Suit != suit {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsStraight() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	sorted := hand.SortByRank(AcesHigh)
-
-	if sorted[0].Rank == ACE && sorted[1].Rank == FIVE {
-		// special case for A-5 straight
-		if sorted[1].Rank == FIVE && sorted[2].Rank == FOUR && sorted[3].Rank == THREE && sorted[4].Rank == DEUCE {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return sorted[0].Rank.Int(AcesHigh) == sorted[1].Rank.Int(AcesHigh)+1 && sorted[1].Rank.Int(AcesHigh) == sorted[2].Rank.Int(AcesHigh)+1 && sorted[2].Rank.Int(AcesHigh) == sorted[3].Rank.Int(AcesHigh)+1 && sorted[3].Rank.Int(AcesHigh) == sorted[4].Rank.Int(AcesHigh)+1
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsStraightFlush() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	if hand.containsStraight() && hand.containsFlush() {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsRoyalFlush() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	sorted := hand.SortByRank(AcesHigh)
-	if hand.containsStraightFlush() && sorted[0].Rank == ACE {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsFourOfAKind() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	sorted := hand.SortByRank(AcesHigh)
-	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsFullHouse() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	sorted := hand.SortByRank(AcesHigh)
-	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsPair() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	sorted := hand.SortByRank(AcesHigh)
-	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsThreeOfAKind() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	sorted := hand.SortByRank(AcesHigh)
-	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) containsTwoPair() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	sorted := hand.SortByRank(AcesHigh)
-	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[2].Rank == sorted[3].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[0].Rank == sorted[1].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	if sorted[1].Rank == sorted[2].Rank && sorted[3].Rank == sorted[4].Rank {
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func (hand Cards) isUnmadeHand() bool {
-	if !hand.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-		panic("hand must have 5 cards to be scored")
-	}
-	return !hand.containsPair() && !hand.containsTwoPair() && !hand.containsThreeOfAKind() && !hand.containsStraight() && !hand.containsFlush() && !hand.containsFullHouse() && !hand.containsFourOfAKind() && !hand.containsStraightFlush() && !hand.containsRoyalFlush()
-}
-
-// this method makes a n new hands where n is the number of cards in the hand
-// each of the new hands has one card removed from the original hand
-// then it calls the identifyBestFiveCardPokerHand method on each of the new hands
-// and returns the best hand by score.  this is recursion.
-func (hand Cards) identifyBestFiveCardPokerHand() (Cards, error) {
-	newHands := make([]Cards, len(hand))
-	for i := 0; i < len(hand); i++ {
-		newHand := hand[:i]
-		newHand = append(newHand, hand[i+1:]...)
-		newHands[i] = newHand
-	}
-	var bestHand Cards
-	var bestScore HandScore
-
-	for _, h := range newHands {
-		if h.IsFiveCardPokerHand() {
-			score, _ := h.ScoreHand()
-			if score > bestScore {
-				bestScore = score
-				bestHand = h
-			}
-		} else {
-			rh, _ := h.identifyBestFiveCardPokerHand()
-			score, _ := rh.ScoreHand()
-			if score > bestScore {
-				bestScore = score
-				bestHand = rh
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return bestHand, nil
+	return 0
 }
diff --git a/pokercore/scoring_test.go b/pokercore/scoring_test.go
index 0a26909..ac26b77 100644
--- a/pokercore/scoring_test.go
+++ b/pokercore/scoring_test.go
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ func TestFlush(t *testing.T) {
 
 	x := ScoreFlush
 	var multiplier HandScore = 100
-	x += multiplier * DEUCE.HandScore(AcesHigh)
+	x += multiplier * DEUCE.Score()
 	multiplier *= 100
-	x += multiplier * THREE.HandScore(AcesHigh)
+	x += multiplier * THREE.Score()
 	multiplier *= 100
-	x += multiplier * FOUR.HandScore(AcesHigh)
+	x += multiplier * FOUR.Score()
 	multiplier *= 100
-	x += multiplier * SIX.HandScore(AcesHigh)
+	x += multiplier * SIX.Score()
 	fmt.Printf("a-2-3-4-6 flush score should be: %d\n", x)
 }
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func TestStraightFlush(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsTwoPair(), "Expected hand to not be two pair")
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsPair(), "Expected hand to not be a pair")
 
-	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank(AcesHigh) == SIX, "Expected highest rank to be a six")
+	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank() == SIX, "Expected highest rank to be a six")
 
 	nd := NewDeckFromCards(hand)
 	nd.ShuffleDeterministically(123456789)
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ func TestStraightFlush(t *testing.T) {
 	fmt.Printf("new deck has %d cards\n", nd.Count())
 	shuffledHand := nd.Deal(5)
 	assert.True(t, shuffledHand.containsStraightFlush(), "Expected hand to still be a straight flush after shuffle")
-	assert.True(t, shuffledHand.HighestRank(AcesHigh) == SIX, "Expected highest rank to still be a six after shuffle")
-	assert.True(t, shuffledHand.HighestRank(AcesLow) == SIX, "Expected highest rank to be a six after shuffle even with aces low")
+	assert.True(t, shuffledHand.HighestRank() == SIX, "Expected highest rank to still be a six after shuffle")
+	assert.True(t, shuffledHand.HighestRank() == SIX, "Expected highest rank to be a six after shuffle even with aces low")
 }
 
 func TestRoyalFlush(t *testing.T) {
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ func TestRoyalFlush(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsTwoPair(), "Expected hand to not be two pair")
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsPair(), "Expected hand to not be a pair")
 
-	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank(AcesHigh) == ACE, "Expected highest rank to be an ace")
-	assert.False(t, hand.HighestRank(AcesHigh) == TEN, "Expected highest rank to not be an ace")
+	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank() == ACE, "Expected highest rank to be an ace")
+	assert.False(t, hand.HighestRank() == TEN, "Expected highest rank to not be an ace")
 }
 
 func TestUnmadeHand(t *testing.T) {
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ func TestUnmadeHand(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsThreeOfAKind(), "Expected hand to not be three of a kind")
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsTwoPair(), "Expected hand to not be two pair")
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsPair(), "Expected hand to not be a pair")
-	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank(AcesHigh) == KING, "Expected highest rank to be a king")
+	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank() == KING, "Expected highest rank to be a king")
 	assert.True(t, hand.isUnmadeHand(), "Expected hand to be unmade")
 }
 
@@ -176,6 +176,24 @@ func TestTwoPair(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, hand.containsThreeOfAKind(), "Expected hand to not be three of a kind")
 	assert.True(t, hand.containsTwoPair(), "Expected hand to be two pair")
 	assert.True(t, hand.containsPair(), "Expected hand to also be a pair")
-	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank(AcesHigh) == KING, "Expected highest rank to be a king")
+	assert.True(t, hand.HighestRank() == KING, "Expected highest rank to be a king")
 	assert.False(t, hand.isUnmadeHand(), "Expected hand to not be unmade")
 }
+
+func TestHandScore(t *testing.T) {
+	hand := Cards{
+		KingOfSpades(),
+		JackOfDiamonds(),
+		JackOfSpades(),
+		KingOfDiamonds(),
+		TenOfSpades(),
+	}
+
+	ph, error := hand.PokerHand()
+	assert.Nil(t, error, "Expected no error")
+	assert.True(t, ph.Score > 0, "Expected score to be nonzero 0")
+	assert.True(t, ph.Score < 100000000000000000, "Expected score to be less than 100000000000000000")
+
+	fmt.Printf("PokerHand: %v+\n", ph)
+	fmt.Printf("PH score: %d\n", ph.Score)
+}