Poker Hand Rankings
The complete guide to poker hand rankings. From Royal Flush to High Card — learn what beats what, with probabilities and strategy tips for each hand.
Complete Hand Rankings Chart
Royal Flush
A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit
649,739 : 1
0.000154%
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit
72,192 : 1
0.00139%
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank
4,164 : 1
0.024%
Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair
693 : 1
0.144%
Flush
Five cards of the same suit (not sequential)
507 : 1
0.197%
Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits
253 : 1
0.392%
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank
46 : 1
2.11%
Two Pair
Two different pairs
20 : 1
4.75%
One Pair
Two cards of the same rank
1.37 : 1
42.26%
High Card
No matching cards — highest card plays
0.99 : 1
50.12%
Understanding Each Hand
Royal Flush
The rarest and highest-ranking hand in poker. A Royal Flush consists of A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit. There are only 4 possible Royal Flushes in a standard deck. In Texas Hold'em, the probability of hitting a Royal Flush by the river is approximately 1 in 30,940.
Strategy tip: If you flop a Royal Flush draw (needing one card), you have a 2-in-47 chance on the turn. Slow-playing is often optimal since your hand is unbeatable.
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts. A Straight Flush beats any Four of a Kind. When comparing Straight Flushes, the one with the highest top card wins. The Ace can be used as low (A-2-3-4-5) or high (10-J-Q-K-A), but A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest Straight Flush.
Strategy tip: In Pot Limit Omaha, Straight Flushes occur more frequently due to the four-card starting hand. Always be aware of the board texture when holding suited connectors.
Four of a Kind (Quads)
Four cards of the same rank plus any fifth card. For example, four Kings plus any kicker. When two players have Four of a Kind, the higher ranked quads win. If both have the same quads (possible with community cards), the kicker determines the winner.
Strategy tip: Many online poker rooms offer "Bad Beat Jackpot" promotions where losing with Quads or better can win you a massive prize. Check if your room offers this.
Full House (Boat)
Three of a kind combined with a pair. For example, three Jacks and two Eights (called "Jacks full of Eights"). The three-of-a-kind part determines rank first; if tied, the pair breaks the tie. Full Houses are strong hands but can be second-best in multi-way pots.
Strategy tip: On paired boards, be cautious with lower Full Houses. If the board shows K-K-7 and you hold 7-7, anyone with a King has a better Full House.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. When comparing Flushes, the highest card determines the winner. If tied, the second-highest card is compared, and so on. The Ace-high Flush (nut flush) is the best possible Flush.
Strategy tip: In Hold'em, if the board has three cards of one suit, any player with two of that suit has a Flush. The player with the highest suited card wins. Always note who could have the nut flush.
Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. The Ace can be high (10-J-Q-K-A, the "Broadway" straight) or low (A-2-3-4-5, the "wheel"). A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest straight; 10-J-Q-K-A is the highest. Suits don't matter for straights.
Strategy tip: When the board shows four to a straight, be cautious. Open-ended straight draws have 8 outs (~31.5% chance to hit by the river), while gutshot straight draws have only 4 outs (~16.5%).
How Kickers Work
When two players have the same hand ranking, kicker cards determine the winner. The kicker is the highest unpaired card in your hand.
Example: Player A has A♠ K♦ with a board of A♥ 9♣ 7♦ 4♠ 2♣
Player B has A♦ Q♣ with the same board
Both have a pair of Aces, but Player A wins because K (kicker) beats Q (kicker).
Note: Only the best five cards matter. In Hold'em, each player uses the best 5 of 7 available cards (2 hole cards + 5 community cards).
Hand Rankings by Game Variant
| Feature | Texas Hold'em | Omaha (PLO) | Short Deck (6+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards Dealt | 2 hole cards | 4 hole cards | 2 hole cards |
| Cards Used | Best 5 of 7 | Exactly 2 hole + 3 board | Best 5 of 7 |
| Deck Size | 52 cards | 52 cards | 36 cards (6+ only) |
| Flush vs Full House | Full House wins | Full House wins | Flush beats Full House |
| Three of a Kind vs Straight | Straight wins | Straight wins | Three of a Kind beats Straight |
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