Poker Hand Rankings — From Best to Worst
Whether you're playing Texas Hold'em, Omaha, or Stud, the hand rankings never change. Memorize this chart — it's the foundation of all poker strategy.
🏆 Complete Hand Rankings Chart
| Rank | Hand Name | Example | Probability (Texas Hold'em) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | 1 in 649,740 (0.000154%) |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ | 1 in 72,193 (0.00139%) |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | J♠ J♣ J♦ J♥ 2♠ | 1 in 4,165 (0.0240%) |
| 4 | Full House | K♠ K♣ K♦ 8♠ 8♥ | 1 in 694 (0.144%) |
| 5 | Flush | A♠ 9♠ 7♠ 4♠ 2♠ | 1 in 508 (0.197%) |
| 6 | Straight | 10♠ 9♥ 8♦ 7♣ 6♠ | 1 in 254 (0.392%) |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Q♠ Q♣ Q♦ 5♠ 2♥ | 1 in 47 (2.11%) |
| 8 | Two Pair | J♠ J♣ 8♦ 8♠ 3♥ | 1 in 21 (4.75%) |
| 9 | One Pair | 10♠ 10♣ 9♥ 7♦ 2♠ | 1 in 1.37 (42.3%) |
| 10 | High Card | A♠ 10♦ 8♥ 6♣ 2♠ | 1 in 1.85 (50.1%) |
Detailed Hand Explanations
1. Royal Flush — The Unbeatable Hand
A Royal Flush is the highest possible hand in poker: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. It's unbeatable and extremely rare — you'll see it once every 650,000 hands on average. No strategy can overcome a Royal Flush.
2. Straight Flush — Five Consecutive Cards of Same Suit
Five cards in sequence, all the same suit. Example: 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥. The highest possible straight flush (A-K-Q-J-10) is a Royal Flush. Any straight flush beats four of a kind and all lower hands.
3. Four of a Kind — All Four Cards of Same Rank
Four cards of the same rank, plus any fifth card (kicker). Example: J♠ J♣ J♦ J♥ 2♠. If two players have four of a kind, the higher rank wins. In community card games, this is rare but powerful.
4. Full House — Three of a Kind + a Pair
Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. Example: K♠ K♣ K♦ 8♠ 8♥. When comparing full houses, the rank of the three cards determines the winner first.
5. Flush — Five Cards of Same Suit
Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. Example: A♠ 9♠ 7♠ 4♠ 2♠. If two players have a flush, the highest card wins, then second highest, etc.
6. Straight — Five Consecutive Cards
Five cards in sequence, any suits. Example: 10♠ 9♥ 8♦ 7♣ 6♠. Ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (A-2-3-4-5). A straight beats three of a kind.
7. Three of a Kind — Three Cards of Same Rank
Three cards of the same rank, plus two unrelated cards. Example: Q♠ Q♣ Q♦ 5♠ 2♥. Also called "trips" or a "set."
8. Two Pair — Two Different Pairs
Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, plus a fifth unrelated card. Example: J♠ J♣ 8♦ 8♠ 3♥. Compare the higher pair first.
9. One Pair — Two Cards of Same Rank
Two cards of the same rank, plus three unrelated cards. Example: 10♠ 10♣ 9♥ 7♦ 2♠. This is the most common winning hand in many poker games.
10. High Card — No Pair
When no player makes any of the above hands, the highest card wins. Example: A♠ 10♦ 8♥ 6♣ 2♠. Ace is highest, then King, Queen, etc.
Hand Rankings for Different Poker Variants
While the rankings above apply to most poker games, here's how they work in different variants:
| Variant | Hand Ranking Rules | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Hold'em | Standard rankings (Royal Flush to High Card) | Use best 5 of 7 cards (2 hole + 5 community) |
| Omaha | Standard rankings | Must use exactly 2 hole cards + 3 community |
| 7-Card Stud | Standard rankings | Use best 5 of 7 individual cards |
| Razz | Lowball rankings | Lowest hand wins — A-2-3-4-5 is best |
| 2-7 Triple Draw | Lowball rankings | Lowest hand wins, straights and flushes count against you |
| Omaha Hi-Lo | Standard + Lowball | Pot split between best high and best low (8-high or lower) |
Printable Poker Hand Rankings Chart
Keep this reference handy while you play. Download and print this chart for quick access at the table.
📄 Quick Reference — Best to Worst
Common Hand Comparison Questions
- Does a flush beat a straight? Yes — flush ranks higher than straight.
- Does a straight flush beat four of a kind? Yes — straight flush is the second-best hand.
- What beats a full house? Four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush.
- What beats two pair? Three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush.
- If two players have a flush, who wins? The player with the highest card wins. If tied, compare second highest, etc.
Practice Hand Recognition
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