Poker hand rankings: what beats what
In Texas Hold’em the best hand is a royal flush, then a straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair and high card. You always make the best five-card hand from your two cards and the five cards on the table, and suits never decide who wins.
The 10 poker hands from best to worst
Section titled “The 10 poker hands from best to worst”- Royal flush A♠K♠Q♠J♠10♠
A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit. The best hand in poker. - Straight flush 9♥8♥7♥6♥5♥
Five cards in a row, all of the same suit. - Four of a kind Q♣Q♦Q♥Q♠7♦
Four cards of the same rank, also called quads. - Full house K♠K♥K♦4♣4♥
Three cards of one rank plus a pair of another. - Flush A♦J♦8♦6♦2♦
Any five cards of the same suit, not in a row. - Straight 8♣7♦6♠5♥4♦
Five cards in a row of mixed suits. - Three of a kind 7♠7♥7♦K♣2♠
Three cards of the same rank, also called a set or trips. - Two pair J♥J♣5♠5♦A♥
Two different pairs. - One pair 10♠10♦K♥6♣3♦
Two cards of the same rank. - High card A♣J♦9♠6♥3♣
No combination. Your highest card plays.
Poker hand chart
Section titled “Poker hand chart”| # | Hand | Example | How rare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A♠K♠Q♠J♠10♠ | 1 in 649,740 |
| 2 | Straight flush | 9♥8♥7♥6♥5♥ | 1 in 72,193 |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Q♣Q♦Q♥Q♠7♦ | 1 in 4,165 |
| 4 | Full house | K♠K♥K♦4♣4♥ | 1 in 694 |
| 5 | Flush | A♦J♦8♦6♦2♦ | 1 in 509 |
| 6 | Straight | 8♣7♦6♠5♥4♦ | 1 in 255 |
| 7 | Three of a kind | 7♠7♥7♦K♣2♠ | 1 in 47 |
| 8 | Two pair | J♥J♣5♠5♦A♥ | 1 in 21 |
| 9 | One pair | 10♠10♦K♥6♣3♦ | 1 in 2.4 |
| 10 | High card | A♣J♦9♠6♥3♣ | 1 in 2 |
Chance shown for 5 random cards (1 in …). With 7 cards in Hold’em every hand comes a little more often, but the order stays the same.
How ties are decided
Section titled “How ties are decided”When two players have the same kind of hand, the higher cards win. If the main cards are equal, the next highest card, called the kicker, decides.
Example: the kicker wins. Board A♦9♣7♠4♥2♦. You hold A♠K♦ and your opponent holds A♥Q♣. You both have a pair of aces, but your king beats their queen, so you win.
If both players end up with exactly the same five cards, the pot is split. For example, on a board of A♠K♠Q♦J♣10♥ everyone has the same straight, so anyone without a higher hand shares the pot.
5 mistakes beginners make
Section titled “5 mistakes beginners make”- A flush beats a straight. It is rarer, so it ranks higher.
- Suits never rank. A flush in spades is not better than a flush in hearts. Equal hands split the pot.
- Only five cards count. With K♣K♦8♠8♥3♣ on the board and your Q♥3♦, you have three pairs, but your hand is K-K-8-8-Q.
- The ace can be low. 5-4-3-2-A is the lowest straight, called the wheel. A straight cannot wrap around: Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
- Full houses are compared by the three cards first. K-K-K-2-2 beats Q-Q-Q-A-A.
An easy way to remember
Section titled “An easy way to remember”The rarer a hand is, the stronger it is. If you forget the order at the table, think about which hand you see less often.
What is the best hand in poker?
Section titled “What is the best hand in poker?”The royal flush: A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit. It cannot be beaten, only tied.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Section titled “Does a flush beat a straight?”Yes. A flush (five cards of one suit) beats a straight (five cards in a row), because it is rarer.
Do suits matter in poker?
Section titled “Do suits matter in poker?”No. In Texas Hold’em all suits are equal. If two players have the same hand, they split the pot.
What is a kicker?
Section titled “What is a kicker?”The highest card that is not part of your combination. It breaks ties between equal pairs, two pairs or three of a kind.
Can an ace be low in poker?
Section titled “Can an ace be low in poker?”Yes, in a straight. 5-4-3-2-A is a straight, but a straight cannot wrap around from king to two.
Is three of a kind better than two pair?
Section titled “Is three of a kind better than two pair?”Yes. Three of a kind beats two pair, and two pair beats one pair.