Poker Hand Rankings

From Texas Hold’em to Omaha, Royal Hold’em, Stud and many more, there are more varieties of poker game out there than we can name.

Each may have their own rules, but one thing most of them share is the order of winning poker hands – the hierarchy of which hands beats which others.

This card explains the specifics of all the poker hands you can make in most poker games, as well as which other hands they beat and those to which they’ll lose. If you’re just starting out, we recommend bookmarking this page for easy reference.

Don’t forget that in the case of a tie the pot will usually be awarded to the hand which uses the highest ranking cards. That means a pair of aces beats a pair of kings, that a 9-high straight beats a 6-high straight, queens full beats jacks full, and so on.

If more than one player has the same hand, such as a pair of kings, then the next highest card in their hand – the kicker – will be used to determine the winner. If winning hands are completely identical, they tie and split the pot. Suits are never used to determine a winner.

We’ll start with the best poker hand and work our way down the rankings.

#1 – Royal Flush

Ts Js Qs Ks As

A straight flush is five cards in sequential order, all of the same suit. As this straight flush is all the way to the ace, it is known as a royal flush and is an unbeatable high hand.

#2 – Straight Flush

4h 5h 6h 7h 8h

A straight flush that stops short of the ace is still one of the strongest hands in almost every poker game. It’s called a straight flush because it meets the requirements of both a flush and a straight.

#3 – Four of a Kind

9h 9c 9s 9d Jh

Also known as quads, four of a kind is just what it sounds like: four cards of the same rank, plus any other card. In the case of a tie, the player with the higher ranked quads wins.

In flop games, or games using wildcards, more than one player may make the same set of quads, in which case the unmatched fifth card (the kicker) is used to determine the winner.

#4 – Full House

Qd Qh Qs Kd Ks

Also known as a boat, a full house consists of three-of-a-kind plus a pair. In case of a tie, the highest ranked three-of-a-kind wins. If they are equal, the highest accompanying pair wins.

#5 – Flush

2d Td Qd 6d 5d

Five cards of the same suit make a flush. What differentiates one flush from another is the rank of the highest card. An ace-high flush is the strongest flush.

#6 – Straight

3h 4s 5s 6d 7s

Five cards in sequence – of any suits – make a straight. The highest card in the straight determines the winner in case of a tie.

Note: an ace may be high (A-K-Q-J-T) or low (A-2-3-4-5).

#7 – Three-of-a-Kind

5c 5h 5s 9h 2d

Three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards. Known as a set (if you hold the pair + one on the board) or trips (if one in your hand matches a pair on the board).

#8 – Two Pair

7h 7s 3d 3c Jh

A hand containing two pairs plus a fifth card. Ties are broken by the highest pair, then by the second pair, then by the kicker.

#9 – One Pair

Ks Kh 9s 5d 2h

A single pair of cards with the same rank plus three other unconnected cards. Ties are won by the highest pair, then by kickers if needed.

#10 – High Card

Ad Jh 8h 5s 6c

If you don’t make any of the hands above, your hand strength is determined by your highest card. Ace-high is the best, 6-high the weakest. Ties are broken by kickers.