Poker Hand Rankings

Learn the ranking of poker hands, from high card to royal flush. For example, a full house (three of a kind + one pair) beats a flush (five cards of the same suit) but loses to a four of a kind (four cards of the same rank).

In Texas Hold'em and many other poker variants, understanding poker hand rankings is crucial to playing the game effectively. Here's a detailed breakdown of the hand rankings, from the highest to the lowest:

Royal Flush This is the best and rarest hand in poker, consisting of the highest straight flush possible (A-K-Q-J-10) with all cards in the same suit. Example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠

Straight Flush A straight flush is a hand consisting of five consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣ Note: In the event of a tie, the highest-ranking straight flush wins.

Four of a Kind (Quads) This hand includes four cards of the same rank and one additional card (kicker). Example: 7♦ 7♠ 7♥ 7♣ J♠ Note: If two players have the same four of a kind, the player with the higher kicker wins.

Full House (Boat) A full house consists of three of a kind and a pair. Example: K♦ K♠ K♥ 4♣ 4♠ Note: In the event of a tie, the highest-ranking three of a kind wins. If both are equal, the highest-ranking pair wins.

Flush A flush is a hand with five non-consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: Q♦ 9♦ 7♦ 5♦ 2♦ Note: If two players have flushes, the highest-ranking card in each flush determines the winner. If those are equal, the next highest-ranking card is compared, and so on.

Straight A straight consists of five consecutive cards of different suits. Example: 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♦ 6♥ Note: An ace can act as both the highest (A-K-Q-J-10) and lowest (5-4-3-2-A) card in a straight.

Three of a Kind (Trips or Set) This hand includes three cards of the same rank and two unrelated cards. Example: J♥ J♣ J♠ 8♣ 3♦ Note: In the event of a tie, the highest-ranking three of a kind wins.

Two Pair Two pair consists of two distinct pairs and one unrelated card (kicker). Example: A♣ A♦ 5♠ 5♣ 9♥ Note: In the event of a tie, the highest-ranking pair wins. If those are equal, the second highest-ranking pair wins, and if those are also equal, the highest kicker determines the winner.

One Pair One pair includes two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards. Example: Q♣ Q♠ 10♦ 6♣ 2♠ Note: In the event of a tie, the highest-ranking pair wins. If those are equal, the highest kickers are compared in descending order.

High Card

A high-card hand is one where no pairs, straights, or flushes are present. The value of the hand is determined by the highest-ranking card. Example: K♠ J♦ 9