From the back of the box: "The object of the game is to collect cards to form a five-card poker hand by landing on designated squares along the edges of the board, and then to exit the game. The player to exit a hand worth two pairs or better ends the round and wins half the pot; the holder of the highest hand wins the other half." "Pairs of Better uses the YOUR WAY playing system which provides highly interactive play with all players in competition right to the end." According to their web site, all the inventor's profits go towards helping emerging opera artists, by way of supporting the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio!