Poker Hand Rankings

Poker hand rankings are the order that decides which hand wins at showdown. They are the same in Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and most other standard poker games: a royal flush is the best possible hand, and a high card is the weakest.

Hands are ranked by how rare they are. The harder a hand is to make, the higher it ranks.

Poker Hands from Best to Worst

1. Royal flush: A, K, Q, J, 10, all the same suit.
2. Straight flush: five cards in a row, all the same suit (for example, 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts).
3. Four of a kind: four cards of the same rank (for example, four queens).
4. Full house: three of a kind plus a pair (for example, three 8s and two kings).
5. Flush: any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
6. Straight: five cards in a row of mixed suits (for example, 10-9-8-7-6).
7. Three of a kind: three cards of the same rank.
8. Two pair: two different pairs.
9. One pair: two cards of the same rank.
10. High card: none of the above. Your highest card plays.

How Rare Is Each Hand?

These are the odds of being dealt each hand in five random cards (2,598,960 possible hands):

In Texas Hold'em you choose the best five cards out of seven (your two plus five on the board), so strong hands come up more often than this table suggests.

How Ties Are Broken

When two players have the same type of hand, the higher-ranked cards win:

• Pairs, trips, and quads: the higher rank wins. A pair of kings beats a pair of 9s.
• Two pair: compare the top pair first, then the second pair, then the fifth card.
• Full house: the three-of-a-kind part decides it first.
• Straights and flushes: the highest card wins. If those match, compare the next card down (for flushes).
• Kickers: if hands are otherwise equal, the highest unpaired card (the kicker) decides. If both players have a pair of aces, A-K beats A-Q because of the king kicker.

If all five cards are identical in rank, the pot is split. Suits never break ties in standard poker.

Common Questions About Rankings

• Can an ace be low? Yes, in one straight only: A-2-3-4-5, called "the wheel." It is the lowest straight. You can't wrap around (Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight).
• Does a flush beat a straight? Yes. Flushes are rarer, so they rank higher.
• Does a full house beat a flush? Yes.
• Is there a "five of a kind"? Not in standard poker. It only exists in games with wild cards.

Rankings in Other Games

Lowball games such as Razz and 2-7 Triple Draw flip the rankings so the lowest hand wins. Short Deck (6+) Hold'em, played without 2s through 5s, ranks a flush above a full house because flushes become rarer.

Examples

• You hold A♥ K♥ and the board has Q♥ J♥ 10♥: that is a royal flush.
• Player 1 has K-K-K-4-4, player 2 has Q-Q-Q-A-A. Player 1 wins because kings full beats queens full.
• Both players have a pair of aces; one has a king kicker and the other a jack. The king kicker wins.

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions