Understanding poker hand rankings is essential if you want to know which hand beats what in poker. Every game, whether it is Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or another variant, depends on correctly reading the value of your five cards.
Below we explain the order of poker hands from best to worst, including examples of what is a winning hand.
The Best Hand in Poker: Royal Flush
The royal flush is the ultimate hand in all of poker. It is the best hand in poker and the rarest one you can get. This hand consists of five cards of the same suit in sequence. The five cards have to be specifically 10, J, Q, K & A to be a royal flush.
- Example: 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠
- Theoretically speaking, a royal flush is just the highest straight flush possible.
- A royal flush is unbeatable.
The odds of making a royal flush out of a 52-card deck is 0.000154%.
A Straight Flush
Just below a royal flush is a straight flush. This is made of five cards in sequence that are all of the same suit. Unlike the royal flush, it can be any sequence, such as 5-6-7-8-9, as long as they are five cards of the same suit.
- Example: 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥
- A straight flush is a hand that only loses to a higher straight flush / royal flush.
- Example: 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ loses to a player with 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ 10♥ J♥
The odds of making a straight flush out of a 52-card deck is 0.00154%.
Four of a Kind
This hand is a strong combination of four cards with the same rank plus one extra card. For example, four Kings plus a 7.
- Example: K♦ K♠ K♥ K♣ 7♠
- Four of a kind is a hand that usually wins unless another one player has a better four of a kind.
The odds of making a four of a kind hand out of a 52-card deck is approximately 0.0255%.
A Full House
A full house consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, three 8s and two Jacks.
- Example: 8♣ 8♦ 8♠ J♠ J♦
- A full house is usually a very strong hand in poker
- If more than one player has a full house, the winner is decided by whichever three cards are higher.
- If more than one player has the same three cards, the higher pair wins.
The odds of making a full house out of a 52-card deck is approximately 0.17%.
A Flush
A flush is a hand where all five cards are the same suit but not in sequence. For example, 2, 6, 9, Q, and K, all hearts.
- Example: 2♥ 6♥ 9♥ Q♥ K♥
- A flush is a common but powerful hand.
- If more than one player has a flush, the higher flush wins.
- Example: 2♥ 6♥ 9♥ Q♥ K♥ loses to 2♥ 6♥ 9♥ 10♥ A♥, as A is higher than K.
- 2♥ 6♥ 9♥ Q♥ K♥ loses to 2♥ 3♥ J♥ Q♥ K♥, as J is higher than 9.
The odds of making a flush out of a 52-card deck is approximately 0.37%.
A Straight
A straight is a sequence of five cards in order but not of the same suit. For example, 4♠ 5♦ 6♣ 7♠ 8♥.
- Example: 4♠ 5♦ 6♣ 7♠ 8♥
- If more than one player has a straight, the winner is determined by the highest top card.
The odds of making a straight out of a 52-card deck is 0.76%.
Three of a Kind
This hand is a combination of three cards of the same rank and two random cards. Also known as "a set" or "trips".
- Example: 7♣ 7♠ 7♦ K♥ 3♠
The odds of making a three of a kind out of a 52-card deck is 2.87%.
Two Pair
Two pair is a hand with two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
- Example: Q♦ Q♠ 5♥ 5♣ 8♦
- If one player has higher pairs than the other, that player wins.
- Example: Q♦ Q♠ 5♥ 5♣ 8♦ loses to K♦ K♠ 5♥ 5♣ 8♦
The odds of making two pair out of a 52-card deck is 7.63%.
One Pair
One pair is a hand with two cards of the same rank and three random cards.
- Example: 9♠ 9♦ K♣ 7♥ 4♠
- One pair hands lose to hands with a higher pair.
The odds of making a pair out of a 52-card deck is 49.9%.
A High Card
When no other hand is made, a high card is a hand where the value comes only from the highest single card.
- Example: A♠ 10♦ 7♥ 5♣ 2♠, your high card is an Ace.
- A high card is a hand that loses to even one pair, or a higher high card.
Summary of Poker Hand Rankings from Best to Worst
- Royal Flush – unbeatable, the best hand in poker
- Straight Flush – five cards in sequence, all of the same suit
- Four of a Kind
- A Full House – three plus two cards
- A Flush – all cards the same suit
- A Straight – five in sequence
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- A High Card – weakest of poker hands
Knowing these poker hand rankings helps you quickly see what is the best and what loses in the showdown. Understanding poker hands ensures you always know the different combinations possible on that board, and if the game is in your favor.
"The commonest mistake in history is underestimating your opponent."
Napoleon Bonaparte
