Poker hand rankings form the foundation of every poker game. Whether you play Texas Hold'em, Omaha, or Seven-Card Stud, knowing which hands beat others is essential for making correct decisions at the table.
Understanding poker hand rankings is the first critical step in learning how to play poker successfully. Every poker variant from Texas Hold'em to Seven-Card Stud uses these rankings to determine winners at showdown. This comprehensive guide explains all poker hands from strongest to weakest, how to compare hands within the same category, and the mathematical probabilities that make certain hands more valuable than others.
Poker uses a standard 52-card deck with four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Individual cards rank from highest to lowest as: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The Ace holds special status as it can function as either the highest card or the lowest card depending on the hand context.
Suits have no inherent ranking in poker. A King of hearts has exactly the same value as a King of spades. This equality means that hands differing only by suit are considered tied. When comparing hands, only the rank of cards matters, not their suit.
In certain low-ball poker variants like Razz, the ranking system inverts, with the lowest hand winning instead of the highest. Additionally, in ace-to-five low rules, straights and flushes are not recognized as hand categories, and the Ace always plays as the lowest card.
There are ten standard hand categories in poker when using a 52-card deck without wild cards. An eleventh category, five of a kind, exists only when wild cards are in play. Each category contains multiple possible hand combinations, with rarer hands ranking higher.
The royal flush is the absolute best hand in poker. It consists of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all of the same suit. For example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠. Since all suits are equal, all royal flushes tie with each other. This hand is extraordinarily rare, with odds of approximately 1 in 649,740 in five-card poker.
The royal flush is technically a special case of the straight flush, representing the highest possible straight flush. Many players can play poker for years without ever making this hand. Its rarity and unbeatable status make it the most celebrated hand in poker.
A straight flush contains five cards of the same suit in sequential rank order. Examples include 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ or J♣ 10♣ 9♣ 8♣ 7♣. When comparing two straight flushes, the one with the higher top card wins. An Ace can count as low in a straight flush, making 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ A♦ valid, but this is the lowest possible straight flush with the five as the high card.
The cards cannot wrap around the deck. A hand like 4♠ 3♠ 2♠ A♠ K♠ is not a valid straight flush. The probability of making a straight flush is approximately 1 in 72,193, making it the second rarest hand in standard poker.
Four of a kind, also called quads, consists of four cards of the same rank plus one unrelated card. For example: 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ 8♣ 3♥. When comparing two four of a kind hands, the hand with the higher set of four cards wins. Four nines beat four eights regardless of the fifth card.
If two players somehow have four of a kind of the same rank, which can only occur in games with community cards or multiple decks, the fifth card called the kicker determines the winner. The hand with the higher kicker wins. Four of a kind occurs approximately once in every 4,165 hands.
A full house contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. This hand is colloquially described as threes over twos or threes full of twos. For example: 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ 4♣ 4♠ would be called sevens full of fours.
When comparing full houses, the rank of the three matching cards determines the winner first. A full house with three nines beats a full house with three eights, regardless of the pair. Only if the three-card sets are equal does the pair rank matter. Full houses occur approximately once in every 694 hands.
In poker, each player forms a five-card hand from available cards. The hand is then categorized into one of ten ranking tiers. A hand in a higher category always beats a hand in a lower category, regardless of the specific cards involved. Within the same category, individual card ranks determine the winner.
The standard 52-card deck produces exactly 2,598,960 distinct five-card combinations. However, since suits have equal value in most poker games, there are only 7,462 unique hand ranks. The rarity of each hand type directly correlates with its ranking strength.
A flush consists of five cards of the same suit in any order. The ranks do not need to be sequential. For example: K♦ J♦ 9♦ 6♦ 3♦. When comparing two flushes, compare the highest card first. If those match, compare the second-highest card, then the third, fourth, and fifth if necessary.
For example, K♠ J♠ 9♠ 3♠ 2♠ beats K♠ J♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ because the nine beats the seven in the third position. Flushes occur approximately once in every 509 hands, making them relatively uncommon but not exceptionally rare.
A straight contains five cards of sequential rank in mixed suits. For example: Q♥ J♠ 10♦ 9♣ 8♥. When comparing straights, the hand with the higher top card wins. An Ace can function as high in A-K-Q-J-10 or low in 5-4-3-2-A, but cannot wrap around as in K-A-2-3-4.
The wheel or bicycle refers to the lowest straight: 5-4-3-2-A. In this case, the five is considered the high card, not the Ace. Straights occur approximately once in every 255 hands.
Three of a kind, also called trips or a set, contains three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards. For example: 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ K♣ 5♠. When comparing two three of a kind hands, the higher three-card rank wins.
If the three-card ranks are equal, compare the highest unrelated card, then the second unrelated card if necessary. Three of a kind occurs approximately once in every 47 hands.
Two pair contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one unrelated card. For example: J♠ J♦ 6♥ 6♣ A♠. When comparing two pair hands, the highest pair is compared first. If those match, the second pair is compared. If both pairs match, the fifth card determines the winner.
For example, Q-Q-5-5-8 beats Q-Q-5-5-4 because the eight kicker is higher than the four. Two pair occurs approximately once in every 21 hands.
One pair contains two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards. For example: 10♥ 10♠ K♦ 7♣ 4♠. When comparing one pair hands, the pair rank is compared first. If the pairs are equal, the highest unrelated card is compared, then the second highest, then the third if necessary.
One pair is a common hand, occurring approximately once in every 2.4 hands. Despite its frequency, a pair can still win pots, especially in games with few players or when opponents miss their draws.
When no other hand category applies, the hand is valued by its highest card. For example: A♠ J♦ 9♣ 6♥ 3♠ is called ace-high. When comparing high card hands, compare the highest card first, then work down through each card until a difference is found.
High card hands occur approximately once in every 2 hands, making them the most common outcome. In games like Texas Hold'em with community cards, high card hands often lose, but in heads-up situations or when all players miss, the high card can take the pot.
Understanding the mathematical probability of each hand helps players make better decisions. The probability of being dealt a specific hand in five-card poker directly correlates with its ranking. Royal flush probability is approximately 0.000154%, while high card probability is approximately 50.12%.
In Texas Hold'em, probabilities change because players use seven cards to make their best five-card hand. The probability of making at least a pair by the river is approximately 49%. The probability of making a flush when holding two suited cards is approximately 6.5%. These probabilities inform strategic decisions about which hands to play and how aggressively to bet.
Pot odds and implied odds build on hand probabilities. If you have a flush draw with one card to come, you have approximately a 19.6% chance of completing it. If the pot offers better than 4-to-1 odds, calling becomes mathematically profitable over time.
A poker hand has both absolute value based on its ranking category and relative value based on game context. A pair of Aces has high absolute value as the best possible pair, but its relative value changes based on board texture, opponent behavior, and game type.
In a tight game where opponents only play premium hands, even a strong hand like top pair may have reduced relative value. Conversely, in a loose game with many weak players, the same hand gains relative value. Expert players constantly reassess relative hand value as new information becomes available through betting patterns and community cards.
Position also affects relative hand value. A medium-strength hand like middle pair has more value in late position where you act last than in early position where you must act first on future betting rounds. This positional advantage allows you to make more informed decisions.
Most poker variants use the standard hand ranking system, but important exceptions exist. In Omaha, players must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards, which affects hand construction but not ranking. In Short Deck or Six Plus Hold'em, which removes cards below six, a flush beats a full house due to altered probabilities.
Lowball games like Razz invert the rankings entirely, with the worst traditional hand becoming the best. In Deuce-to-Seven Lowball, straights and flushes count against you, and the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 of mixed suits. In Ace-to-Five Lowball, straights and flushes are ignored, and the best hand is 5-4-3-2-A.
High-low split games like Omaha Hi-Lo use standard rankings for the high hand but ace-to-five low rankings for the low hand. To qualify for low, a hand typically must have five cards of eight or lower. Understanding these variant-specific rules is essential when transitioning between poker formats.
When two players have hands in the same category, specific comparison rules determine the winner. For pairs, compare the pair rank first, then the highest kicker, then the second kicker, then the third kicker if necessary. For two pair, compare the highest pair, then the second pair, then the kicker.
For three of a kind, compare the three-card rank first, then the highest kicker, then the second kicker. For straights and straight flushes, compare only the highest card in the sequence. For flushes, compare each card in descending order until a difference is found.
For full houses, compare the three-card rank first, then the pair rank only if the three-card ranks match. For four of a kind, compare the four-card rank first, then the kicker only if the four-card ranks match. These rules ensure that every hand comparison produces a clear winner or a tie.
Beginning players often make errors when evaluating hands. A common mistake is overvaluing hands like two pair or trips on dangerous boards. If the board shows three cards of the same suit and you hold two pair, any opponent with two suited cards has a flush that beats you.
Another frequent error is misreading straights, especially when an Ace is involved. Remember that A-2-3-4-5 is valid but K-A-2-3-4 is not. Players also sometimes forget that in a full house, the three-card rank matters more than the pair rank.
Failing to consider all five cards is another mistake. In Texas Hold'em, if the board is A-A-K-K-Q and you hold J-10, your hand is two pair, Aces and Kings with a Queen kicker. An opponent holding any card higher than a Queen has a better kicker and wins.
Mastering poker hand rankings is fundamental to playing poker successfully. From the unbeatable royal flush to the humble high card, each hand category has specific rules for construction and comparison. Understanding these rankings, their probabilities, and how they apply across different poker variants gives you the foundation to make correct decisions at the table.
Beyond memorizing the hierarchy, successful players understand the difference between absolute and relative hand value. They adjust their strategy based on game type, position, opponent tendencies, and board texture. With this comprehensive knowledge of poker hands, you can focus on advanced concepts like range construction, equity calculation, and optimal betting strategy.
The royal flush is the rarest poker hand, occurring approximately once in every 649,740 five-card hands. It consists of A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit and is unbeatable in standard poker games.
Yes, a flush beats a straight in standard poker hand rankings. A flush occurs less frequently than a straight, making it the higher-ranked hand. This ranking applies to all standard poker variants including Texas Hold'em and Omaha.
Yes, an Ace can function as the low card in a 5-4-3-2-A straight, called a wheel or bicycle. However, the Ace cannot wrap around, so K-A-2-3-4 is not a valid straight. The Ace can be high in A-K-Q-J-10 or low in 5-4-3-2-A but not both simultaneously.
When two players have hands in the same category, the winner is determined by comparing individual card ranks within that category. If all relevant cards are identical, the pot is split equally between the players. Suits are never used to break ties in standard poker.
There are exactly 2,598,960 distinct five-card combinations possible from a standard 52-card deck. However, since suits have equal value, there are only 7,462 unique hand ranks when considering hands that differ only by suit as equivalent.
A kicker is an unmatched card used to break ties between hands of the same category. For example, if two players both have a pair of Kings, the player with the higher kicker wins. Kickers are relevant for one pair, two pair, three of a kind, and four of a kind hands.
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