Poker Hand Rankings

All 10 poker hands ranked from strongest to weakest. Click any hand for details.

1
Royal Flush
A, K, Q, J, 10 — same suit
A♠
K♠
Q♠
J♠
T♠
▼
Probability: 0.000154% — 649,739 to 1
The strongest possible hand. A straight from Ten to Ace, all of the same suit. All four suits are equal in Hold'em, so any suit qualifies.
2
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards, same suit
8♥
7♥
6♥
5♥
4♥
▼
Probability: 0.00139% — 72,192 to 1
Any five consecutive cards of the same suit (excluding the Royal Flush). The highest straight flush below Royal is K-Q-J-T-9. Ace can be low (A-2-3-4-5), known as a "steel wheel."
3
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank
K♠
K♥
K♦
K♣
2♠
▼
Probability: 0.024% — 4,164 to 1
All four cards of one rank plus any kicker. Also called "quads." If two players both have quads, the higher rank wins. If the board shows quads, the highest kicker wins.
4
Full House
Three of a kind plus a pair
Q♥
Q♦
Q♣
9♠
9♥
▼
Probability: 0.144% — 693 to 1
Three cards of one rank and two of another. Called "Queens full of Nines" in this example. The three-of-a-kind portion determines the winner first; if tied, the pair breaks it.
5
Flush
Five cards of the same suit
A♣
J♣
8♣
5♣
3♣
▼
Probability: 0.197% — 508 to 1
Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. Ranked by highest card, then second, and so on. An "Ace-high flush" beats a "King-high flush." The nut flush always contains the Ace of that suit.
6
Straight
Five consecutive cards, any suit
T♠
9♦
8♣
7♥
6♠
▼
Probability: 0.392% — 254 to 1
Five cards in sequence, regardless of suit. The highest straight is A-K-Q-J-T ("Broadway"). The lowest is A-2-3-4-5 (the "wheel"). If two players have straights, the one with the higher top card wins.
7
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank
7♠
7♥
7♦
K♣
3♠
▼
Probability: 2.11% — 46 to 1
Three cards of one rank and two unrelated kickers. Called "trips" when you use one hole card with a board pair, or "a set" when you hold a pocket pair and hit the board. Sets are more disguised and generally stronger.
8
Two Pair
Two different pairs
J♠
J♥
4♣
4♦
A♠
▼
Probability: 4.75% — 20 to 1
Two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, plus a kicker. The higher pair determines the winner first. If tied, the second pair matters. If both pairs match, the kicker decides.
9
One Pair
Two cards of the same rank
T♠
T♥
A♣
8♦
5♠
▼
Probability: 42.3% — 1.4 to 1
Two cards of the same rank with three unrelated kickers. The most common hand in Hold'em. Higher pair wins; if pairs are equal, kickers decide in order from highest to lowest.
10
High Card
No pair or better
A♠
J♦
8♣
5♥
2♠
▼
Probability: 50.1% — about 1 to 1
When you can't make any of the above hands, the highest card plays. "Ace high" beats "King high." If the highest cards tie, compare the second-highest, and so on down to the fifth card.

Texas Hold'em Hand Rankings

In Texas Hold'em, you make the best possible five-card hand from seven cards: your two hole cards and five community cards. The hand rankings below apply to all standard poker games including Hold'em, Omaha, and Five-Card Draw.

How Hands Are Ranked

The ranking system is based on mathematical probability — the harder a hand is to make, the higher it ranks. A Royal Flush (odds of 649,739 to 1) beats everything, while a mere High Card (about 50% probability) is the weakest possible holding.

Key Rules to Remember

Most Common Hands in Hold'em

At showdown, the most frequent winning hands are One Pair and Two Pair. Don't underestimate top pair with a good kicker — it wins far more pots than the dramatic Royal Flushes you see in movies. Understanding relative hand strength in the context of the board and opponent ranges is more valuable than memorizing exact probabilities.

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