| Hand | 5-Card Combos | Probability | Odds (approx) | Frequency |
|---|
Poker is more than just a game of chance—it’s a blend of strategy, skill, and calculated risk. At the core of every poker game lies the concept of the poker hand: a specific combination of cards that determines who takes home the pot. Whether you’re sitting down for your first hand or you’re a seasoned regular at the poker table, understanding poker hand rankings is essential. Each poker hand, from the unbeatable royal flush (ace king queen jack ten, all in the same suit) to the humble high card, has its own place in the hierarchy. Knowing which hands outrank others—like how a straight flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit) beats a full house—can make the difference between folding too soon and making a winning call. In this guide, we’ll break down the different types of hands, explain what makes each one unique, and help we’ll help you master the art of reading the board. Whether you’re aiming for that elusive royal flush or just trying to make the best of a high card, understanding poker hand rankings is your first step toward poker success.
Poker hand rankings are the same across most popular poker games (Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Five Card Draw, and more). In games like Texas Hold'em, Texas Hold'em poker, Texas Hold'em hands, and Hold'em, understanding poker hand rankings is crucial for evaluating the strength of your Texas Hold'em poker hand and making strategic decisions.
In community card games such as Texas Hold'em, players form the best 5-card combination out of 7 available cards (2 hole cards and 5 community cards) to determine their final hand.
Players use poker hand rankings to decide whether to bet, raise, call, or fold during each round of play.
Understanding card combinations and poker hand probabilities—the likelihood of different hands occurring—is essential for strategic play and improving your odds at the table.
Use this guide as a quick reference for what beats what, plus learn how ties are broken with kickers and card counts.
Key rule: A poker hand is always the best five-card combination. In games where you can see more than 5 cards (Hold'em, Stud), you still only use 5 to make your final hand.
Tip: Memorize the top 5 hands first (flush+). Most beginners mix up straight vs flush or forget full house strength.
This is the standard “highest to lowest” list. A higher-ranked hand always beats a lower-ranked hand.
| Rank | Hand | Beats | Quick Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Five of a Kind | Everything | Four cards of the same rank + Wild Card |
| 2 | Royal Flush | Everything (non-wild) | A-K-Q-J-10, same suit |
| 3 | Straight Flush | Four of a Kind and below | Five consecutive, same suit |
| 4 | Four of a Kind | Full House and below | Four cards of the same rank |
| 5 | Full House | Flush and below | Three of a kind + a pair |
| 6 | Flush | Straight and below | Five cards, same suit (not consecutive) |
| 7 | Straight | Three of a Kind and below | Five consecutive (any suits) |
| 8 | Three of a Kind | Two Pair and below | Three cards of the same rank |
| 9 | Two Pair | One Pair and below | Two different pairs |
| 10 | One Pair | High Card | Two cards of the same rank |
| 11 | High Card | — | No pair, best five-card high |
Flush beats straight. This is one of the most common beginner mix-ups.
Below are each hand type with a clear example and what to look for. (Suits don’t matter unless it’s a flush / straight flush.)
General Note: If two players have the same hand type, the winner is determined by the highest cards in the combination. If multiple players have the same poker hand (identical hands), the pot is split evenly among them.
Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all the same suit. The best possible hand in poker.
Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts. An ace high straight flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit) is the highest possible straight flush and beats any lower straight flush.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, such as 7-7-7-7-2. The fifth card (kicker) can break ties if two players have four of a kind of the same rank.
Full House: Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank (for example, 8-8-8-4-4). The strength of a full house is determined first by the rank of the three cards (one rank), then by the pair. For example, a full house with three aces (A-A-A-K-K) beats a full house with three kings (K-K-K-A-A).
Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. For example, Q-10-7-6-2 of clubs. If two players have a flush, the highest card wins.
Straight: Five consecutive cards of any suit. For example, 10-9-8-7-6. Aces can be used as the highest card (ace high straight: A-K-Q-J-10, also called a high straight) or as the lowest card (ace to five straight: 5-4-3-2-A, also known as a wheel straight). If two players have a straight, the one with the highest top card wins.
Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, such as 5-5-5-K-2. Three aces (A-A-A) is a particularly strong three of a kind.
Two Pair: Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and a fifth card. For example, J-J-4-4-9. If two players have the same two pair, the fifth card (kicker) determines the winner—higher kicker wins.
One Pair: Two cards of the same rank (pair hands), such as 10-10-8-6-2. In Texas Hold'em, being dealt a pair as your hole cards is called a pocket pair (for example, pocket Tens or pocket Jacks).
High Card: If no player has any of the above hands, the highest card wins. For example, A-Q-10-7-3 (ace high). This is the weakest possible hand. If two players have the same value hand, the highest card wins. If multiple players have the same poker hand, the pot is split evenly among them.
Best possible hand
Definition: A-K-Q-J-10 all in the same suit.
Example: A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥
Consecutive + same suit
Definition: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Example: 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣
An ace high straight flush (10♣ J♣ Q♣ K♣ A♣) is the highest possible straight flush, and a higher straight flush always beats a lower straight flush. In poker hand rankings, a straight flush beats hands like four of a kind and a full house, but is only beaten by a royal flush.
4 same rank
Definition: Four cards of the same rank + one kicker.
Example: A♦ A♣ A♥ A♠ + 7♣
Four of a kind beats a full house in the poker hand rankings, making it one of the strongest hands—this is often referred to as "kind beats." The probability of making four of a kind is about 0.024%, or 1 in 4,166 poker combinations.
Trips + pair
Definition: A Full House consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
Example: K♠ K♦ K♣ + 9♥ 9♣
A full house beats a flush and a straight in poker hand rankings, and if two players have a full house, the higher three-of-a-kind (the higher one rank) wins. The odds of making a full house are approximately 0.144%, or about 1 in 695 five-card combinations. Spoken as: “Kings full of nines.”
5 same suit
Definition: Any five cards of the same suit (not in sequence).
Example: A♠ J♠ 9♠ 6♠ 3♠
If two players both have a flush, the flush wins for the player with the highest top card; if the highest cards are the same, compare the next highest cards, and so on. If all five cards are identical in rank, the pot is split.
5 consecutive
Definition: Five consecutive ranks (suits don’t matter). A straight can be a high straight, such as an ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10), or an ace to five straight (A-2-3-4-5, also called a wheel).
Example: 8♦ 7♣ 6♠ 5♦ 4♥
In a showdown between two straights, the straight with the higher top card wins.
3 same rank
Definition: Three cards of the same rank + two kickers.
Example: 7♥ 7♠ 7♦ + K♣ + 2♣
Three aces is the strongest possible three of a kind, making it a very powerful hand. Three of a kind beats two pair in poker hand rankings.
2 pairs + kicker
Definition: Two different pairs + one kicker.
Example: J♣ J♦ + 4♠ 4♦ + A♥
When two players have two pair, the higher pair is compared first to determine the winner (higher pair). If both players have the same two pair, the fifth card (kicker) is used as a tiebreaker. If all five cards are the same value, the pot is split.
1 pair
Definition: One pair (pair hands) consists of two cards of the same rank plus three kickers.
Example: Q♠ Q♦ + A♣ + 9♥ + 3♦
A pocket pair refers to being dealt a pair as your hole cards in Texas Hold'em, such as pocket Tens or pocket Jacks. When two players have one pair, the highest pair wins.
No pair
Definition: Weakest possible poker hand, no pair, no straight, no flush. Best 5-card high wins.
Example: A♦ J♣ 9♥ 6♠ 2♦ (“Ace-high”)
If two or more players have the same value high card hand, the next highest card is compared. If all five cards are the same value, the pot is split.
While the standard poker hand rankings form the backbone of most games, there are plenty of exciting variations that can shake things up. In some poker variants, wild cards are introduced—these can stand in for any card in the deck, making it possible to create hands like five of a kind, which isn’t possible in traditional play. Home games sometimes invent their own unique hands, such as the “royal Sanchez,” adding a fun twist to the usual lineup. If you’re playing Pot Limit Omaha, remember that you must use exactly two of your hole cards and three community cards to form your best poker hand, which can lead to different strategic considerations compared to Texas Hold’em. Short deck games, which use a reduced deck (often removing cards below six), also change the hand rankings—here, a flush can actually beat a full house, and the odds of hitting certain hands shift dramatically. Whenever you join a new poker table or try a different poker variant, take a moment to review the specific hand rankings and rules, especially if wild cards or short decks are in play. This knowledge will help you avoid costly mistakes and keep your edge sharp, no matter what kind of poker hand you’re dealt.
When two players have the same hand type, the winner is decided by comparing the highest relevant cards. This is where kickers and “top card” comparisons matter. If two or more players have identical hands or the same poker hand—meaning their five-card hands are of the same value—the pot is split evenly among all involved players, a situation known as a chop. This rule applies whenever multiple players have the same value hand and no kicker can break the tie.
If two players share the same pair (or two pair), the higher kicker wins. Compare the highest remaining cards in order, and if necessary, the fifth card acts as the tiebreaker.
Example: Player A: Q-Q with A-9-3 kickers | Player B: Q-Q with A-8-5 kickers
Winner: Player A (9 kicker beats 8)
Straights are ranked by their highest card. Suits do not break ties in standard poker.
Example: A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest straight (“wheel”). 10-J-Q-K-A is the highest straight.
Compare the highest card in the flush, then the next highest, and so on. In a showdown where both players have a flush, the flush wins if it contains the highest top card; for example, an A-high flush beats a K-high flush.
Compare the three of a kind first. The higher three-of-a-kind wins. If those are the same, then compare the pair.
Example: K-K-K-9-9 beats Q-Q-Q-A-A.
Split pots: If two players have exactly the same five-card hand, the pot is split equally.
Fast check: If you’re unsure, identify (1) hand type, (2) highest relevant rank, (3) kicker order.
These rankings apply to most mainstream poker variants, but always confirm exact rules:
What is the highest hand in poker?
A royal flush is the highest possible hand: A-K-Q-J-10 all in the same suit.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush ranks higher than a straight in standard poker hand rankings.
Do suits matter in poker hand rankings?
Not for ranking hands or breaking ties in standard poker. Suits matter only to determine whether you have a flush.
What is a kicker in poker?
A kicker is a side card used to break ties when players have the same made hand. The highest kicker wins.
Can an ace be low in a straight?
Yes. An ace can be used as the lowest card in the straight A-2-3-4-5 (often called the “wheel”).
How do ties work in poker?
If two players make the exact same five-card hand, the pot is split equally between them.