Poker Hand Rankings
From the mighty royal flush down to a lone high card, here is every poker hand ranked from strongest to weakest, with example cards for each.
Knowing the hand rankings is the first and most important step in poker. Almost every popular game, Texas Hold’em, Omaha and more, uses this same order. Learn it once and it applies everywhere. The list below runs from the best possible hand to the weakest.
Royal Flush
The unbeatable handThe rarest and strongest hand in poker: the ace, king, queen, jack and ten all of the same suit. Nothing beats it, and it can never lose, at best another royal flush ties it. If you make one, savour the moment.
Straight Flush
Five in a row, one suitAny five cards in sequence that also share the same suit. When two players both hold a straight flush, the one reaching the highest top card wins. It is a genuine monster and almost always the best hand at the table.
Four of a Kind
Also called “quads”Four cards of the same rank, plus one side card known as the kicker. Higher quads beat lower quads, and if that somehow ties, the kicker decides. A hand this strong wins the vast majority of the time.
Full House
Three plus a pairThree cards of one rank combined with a pair of another, often described as “three of a kind full of the pair.” When comparing full houses, the three-of-a-kind portion is ranked first, then the pair.
Flush
Five of one suitFive cards of the same suit that are not in sequence. Suits themselves have no ranking in poker, so if two players hold a flush, the winner is decided by the highest card, then the next, and so on.
Straight
Five in a row, any suitsFive consecutive cards of mixed suits. The ace is flexible, it can play high (10-J-Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3-4-5). The straight with the highest top card wins any showdown between straights.
Three of a Kind
Also called “trips” or a “set”Three cards of the same rank with two unrelated side cards. Higher trips beat lower trips; if they match, the highest kicker breaks the tie. A solid, frequently winning hand.
Two Pair
Two different pairsTwo separate pairs plus one kicker. The higher pair is compared first, then the second pair, and finally the kicker. Two pair wins plenty of pots, but be cautious against heavy betting.
One Pair
A single matching pairJust two cards of the same rank alongside three unrelated cards. It is one of the most common made hands. When pairs are equal, the highest kicker, then the next, decides the winner.
High Card
Nothing connectsWhen no one makes anything better, the highest single card wins, here, ace high. If the top cards tie, you compare the next highest, and so on down the line. It wins more showdowns than beginners expect.
| Rank | Hand |
|---|---|
| 1. Royal Flush | The unbeatable hand |
| 2. Straight Flush | Five in a row, one suit |
| 3. Four of a Kind | Also called “quads” |
| 4. Full House | Three plus a pair |
| 5. Flush | Five of one suit |
| 6. Straight | Five in a row, any suits |
| 7. Three of a Kind | Also called “trips” or a “set” |
| 8. Two Pair | Two different pairs |
| 9. One Pair | A single matching pair |
| 10. High Card | Nothing connects |
A Few Things Worth Remembering
- Suits are equal. No suit outranks another, so a flush in hearts is exactly as good as a flush in spades.
- Kickers matter. When two players share the same pair or trips, the highest side card (the kicker) often decides who wins.
- The ace is flexible. It can be the highest card or, in a five-high straight (A-2-3-4-5), the lowest.
- You always use five cards. Your hand is the best five-card combination available to you, whatever the game.