From Royal Flush at the top to High Card at the bottom, these are all 10 poker hands ranked in order.
| Rank | Hand | Example | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | The strongest possible hand, unbeatable. |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ | Five consecutive cards of the same suit. |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | K♣ K♦ K♥ K♠ 3♣ | Four cards of the same rank. |
| 4 | Full House | Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ 4♠ 4♥ | Three of a kind plus a pair. |
| 5 | Flush | A♥ J♥ 8♥ 5♥ 2♥ | Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. |
| 6 | Straight | 10♣ 9♠ 8♥ 7♣ 6♦ | Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 8♦ 8♠ 8♥ K♣ 2♦ | Three matching cards. |
| 8 | Two Pair | J♠ J♥ 5♣ 5♦ 9♠ | Two different pairs plus a kicker. |
| 9 | One Pair | 10♦ 10♣ A♥ 7♠ 3♦ | One pair plus three side cards. |
| 10 | High Card | A♣ Q♦ 9♠ 5♥ 2♣ | No pair, straight, or flush. Highest card plays. |
In standard poker rules, this ranking applies across all common variants including Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Prefer a quick-reference version? Use this poker hands cheat sheet for a simplified visual guide.
Poker Hand Rankings Explained
Before the bluffs and reads, poker comes down to understanding poker hand rankings. Once the hierarchy is clear, decisions become faster and more accurate.
If you’re new, it helps to first understand the basics through a poker rules guide before applying hand strength in real situations.
Royal Flush
The strongest possible hand, made up of A-K-Q-J-10 all in the same suit. It is unbeatable.
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit. The highest card determines which straight flush is stronger.
Four of a Kind (Quads)
Four cards of the same rank. If two players have quads, the higher rank wins. If tied, the kicker decides.
Full House
A combination of three of a kind and a pair. Hands are compared first by the three-of-a-kind, then by the pair.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. If two players have a flush, the highest card determines the winner.
Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. The highest card in the sequence determines the strength.
Three of a Kind (Trips/Set)
Three cards of the same rank. Remaining cards (kickers) are used to break ties.
Two Pair
Two different pairs plus one kicker. Compare the highest pair first, then the second pair.
One Pair
Two cards of the same rank. The remaining three cards act as kickers.
High Card
A hand with no pairs, straights, or flushes. The highest card determines the winner.
What Beats What in Poker?
Below are quick answers to the most common poker hand comparison questions.
Does a Flush Beat a Straight?
Yes. A flush beats a straight in poker.
A flush is five cards of the same suit, while a straight is five consecutive cards, which ranks lower.
Does 3 of a Kind Beat a Straight?
No. A straight beats three of a kind.
Five consecutive cards outrank three matching cards in the standard hierarchy.
Does a Full House Beat Four of a Kind?
No. Four of a kind beats a full house.
Only a straight flush or royal flush can beat four of a kind.
What Beats a Flush in Poker?
A full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush beat a flush.
Flush sits in the middle of the ranking and loses to all stronger hands above it.
Does a Straight Flush Beat Four of a Kind?
Yes. A straight flush beats four of a kind.
It is one of the rarest hands and ranks just below a royal flush.
Does a Full House Beat a Flush?
Yes. A full house beats a flush.
Three of a kind combined with a pair outranks five suited cards.
Does Two Pair Beat Three of a Kind?
No. Three of a kind beats two pair.
Trips always outrank two separate pairs.
Does a Straight Beat Two Pair?
Yes. A straight beats two pair.
Five consecutive cards outrank two pairs.
Does a Flush Beat Three of a Kind?
Yes. A flush beats three of a kind.
Even the lowest flush outranks trips.
What Beats a Straight in Poker?
A flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush beat a straight.
Straight is a strong hand but loses to all higher-ranked combinations.
Does One Pair Beat High Card?
Yes. One pair beats high card.
Any made pair outranks a hand with no combination.
Does Four of a Kind Beat a Flush?
Yes. Four of a kind beats a flush.
Quads are among the strongest hands in poker.
What Beats Three of a Kind in Poker?
A straight or any stronger hand beats three of a kind.
Trips sit below straights and above two pair.
Does a Straight Beat a Flush?
No. A flush beats a straight.
Flush ranks higher in all standard poker games.
What Beats Four of a Kind in Poker?
Only a straight flush and royal flush beat four of a kind.
Very few hands can beat quads due to their rarity.
Poker Hand Probabilities and Odds
Understanding poker hand odds explains why stronger hands rank higher.
| Hand Rank | Combinations (Count) | Probability (Fraction) | Probability (%) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 4 | 4 / 2,598,960 | 0.000154% | 1 in 649,740 |
| Straight Flush | 36 | 36 / 2,598,960 | 0.00139% | 1 in 72,193 |
| Four of a Kind (Quads) | 624 | 624 / 2,598,960 | 0.0240% | 1 in 4,165 |
| Full House | 3,744 | 3,744 / 2,598,960 | 0.1441% | 1 in 694 |
| Flush | 5,108 | 5,108 / 2,598,960 | 0.197% | 1 in 509 |
| Straight | 10,200 | 10,200 / 2,598,960 | 0.392% | 1 in 255 |
| Three of a Kind (Trips/Set) | 54,912 | 54,912 / 2,598,960 | 2.11% | 1 in 47 |
| Two Pair | 123,552 | 123,552 / 2,598,960 | 4.75% | 1 in 21 |
| One Pair | 1,098,240 | 1,098,240 / 2,598,960 | 42.26% | 1 in 2.4 |
| High Card | 1,302,540 | 1,302,540 / 2,598,960 | 50.12% | 1 in 2 |
These probabilities assume a standard 52-card deck with no wild cards.
Are These Odds the Same in Texas Hold’em?
No. In Texas Hold’em, players use seven cards, which changes how often hands appear.
The hand ranking order remains exactly the same.
Tie-Breaker Rules and Kickers
Card Ranking (High to Low)
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Ace can also be used as low in A-2-3-4-5 straights.
Core Tie-Break Rules
- Compare the main hand first
- If tied, compare kickers
- If identical, the pot is split
Compare the main hand first, then kickers. If everything matches, the pot is split.
Example
Player A: J♠ J♥ 5♣ 5♦ 9♠
Player B: J♠ J♥ 6♣ 5♦ 9♠
Player B wins because the kicker is higher.
Common Poker Mistakes
- Misreading the board
- Overvaluing weak Aces
- Missing Ace-low straights
- Ignoring kickers
- Not recognizing split pots
Poker Variants and Exceptions
-
- Wild card games allow Five of a Kind
- Lowball reverses rankings
- Omaha poker changes hand construction by requiring players to use exactly two hole cards.
The overall hand ranking hierarchy remains consistent in most formats.
Best Starting Hands (Texas Hold’em)
Top starting hands:
- AA
- KK
- AK suited
- JJ
- TT
To improve decisions before the flop, use a poker preflop chart to guide starting hand selection.
How to Use Hand Rankings in Strategy
Position plays a major role in hand strength, especially when acting later in the hand. Understanding poker positions helps you make better decisions.
Hand strength depends on:
- Position
- Board texture
- Stack size
A one-pair hand may win heads-up but lose in multi-way pots.
Poker Strategy Basics
Hand rankings tell you what your cards are worth, but good poker decisions also depend on position, board texture, and stack size. Use hand strength as your starting point, then adjust based on the situation. For a deeper breakdown, see our poker strategy guide.
Raise
Raise with strong hands when you want to build the pot and apply pressure. Premium holdings like A-A, K-K, Q-Q, and A-K are usually worth raising before the flop, especially when you are first into the pot.
Call
Call with medium-strength hands when the price is right and the situation supports it. Hands like middle pairs or decent drawing hands can be worth continuing with, especially when the board is not too dangerous and the pot odds are reasonable.
Fold
Fold weak hands when the board, action, or number of opponents makes you likely to be behind. Letting go of marginal holdings is a big part of winning poker over time, especially when stronger ranges are clearly being represented.
FAQs
What beats what in poker?
A Royal Flush beats all hands, followed by Straight Flush down to High Card.
What is the highest hand in poker?
A Royal Flush.
What are poker hands?
The 10 standard hands ranked from strongest to weakest.
What are good hands in poker?
Flush or better is typically strong. Premium starting hands include AA and AK.
What happens if two players have the same poker hand?
If two players have the same hand, the winner is determined by comparing kickers. If both the hand and kickers are identical, the pot is split evenly between the players.
Does suit matter in poker hand rankings?
No. Suits do not affect poker hand rankings. A flush in hearts ranks the same as a flush in spades. Suits are only used to determine combinations, not strength.
Can an Ace be low in poker?
Yes. An Ace can be used as the lowest card in a straight (A-2-3-4-5) or as the highest card (10-J-Q-K-A). Outside of straights, Ace is always high.
Does high card ever win in poker?
Yes. A high card hand wins when no player has a pair or better. In this case, the highest card determines the winner.
How are poker ties decided?
Poker ties are decided by comparing the main hand first, then the kickers. If all cards are identical between players, the pot is split.
What is a kicker in poker?
A kicker is a side card used to break ties between players with the same hand. For example, if both players have a pair, the highest remaining card (kicker) determines the winner.
What is the rarest poker hand?
A Royal Flush is the rarest and strongest poker hand. It occurs only once in every 649,740 hands on average.
Final Summary
Poker hands always follow the same order:
Royal Flush down to High Card, following the standard poker hand ranking system used across all major variants.
Once you understand what beats what, decision-making becomes faster and more consistent.