Learn poker · The basics
Poker hands,
in the right order.
Flush or straight? Full house or three of a kind? Explore the hand rankings, learn how to break ties and test your knowledge with real examples.
8-minute read · Beginner level
The best possible hand
Royal flush
5 cards count
Even when you have 7 to choose from.
Flush > straight
And a full house always beats a flush.
No suit outranks another
Spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs are equal.
01 · Your cheat sheet
Poker hands in order
From strongest to weakest. A hand higher on this list beats every hand below it.
A = Ace · K = King · Q = Queen · J = Jack. Faded cards complete the five-card hand.
POKERCORNER / LEARN
Poker hand rankings
Texas Hold’em · From strongest to weakest
- 01
Royal flush
Ten through Ace, all of the same suit.
Unbeatable. Players who share it also share the pot.
- 02
Straight flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Compare the highest card in each straight flush.
- 03
Four of a kind
Four cards of the same rank.
Compare the four matching cards, then the fifth card if needed.
- 04
Full house
Three of a kind plus a pair.
Compare the three of a kind first, then the pair.
- 05
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
Compare all five ranks, from highest to lowest.
- 06
Straight
Five consecutive ranks in more than one suit.
The highest card in the straight decides the winner.
- 07
Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank.
Compare the three matching cards, then the two remaining cards in order.
- 08
Two pair
Two pairs of different ranks.
Compare the higher pair, the lower pair, then the fifth card, in that order.
- 09
One pair
Two cards of the same rank.
Compare the pair, then the other three cards in order.
- 10
High card
None of the combinations above.
Compare the cards one by one, from highest to lowest.
You will often see 10 hands listed: a royal flush is actually the highest possible straight flush.
02 · The key principle
Seven cards available. Five cards count.
In Texas Hold’em, you receive two private cards. By the end of the hand, five community cards make up the board. Your hand is the best five-card combination you can make from these seven cards: you may use two, one or none of your private cards.
Your 2 cards
The 5 community cards
Your best hand
A pair of Aces, with a Queen, a 9 and a 7. The 4 and the 2 do not count.
Omaha uses a different rule: you must use exactly two private cards and three community cards. The rankings above apply to standard high hands, not lowball or the special rankings used in short deck.
03 · At showdown
Same hand category: who wins the pot?
Both players having a pair or a flush does not automatically mean a tie. Compare each player’s complete best five-card hand.
- 1
Compare the combination
A pair of Aces beats a pair of Kings. For a full house, compare the three of a kind before the pair: three Kings and two 2s beat three Queens and two Aces.
- 2
Check the tie-breaking cards
When the combination is the same, a side card, called a kicker, can decide the winner. With the same pair of Aces, a Queen can beat a Jack. Compare kickers from highest to lowest.
- 3
Split when all five ranks match
If none of the five cards breaks the tie, the pot is split. A sixth card never counts. Suits do not break ties either.
04 · Your turn
Who wins this hand?
Three Texas Hold’em situations, with no betting. Look at the board and choose the winner.
A pair on each side
Community cards
Player A
Player B
05 · Beginner questions
Unsure at the table?
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. In standard Texas Hold’em rankings, a flush beats a straight, even an Ace-high straight. A full house, four of a kind and a straight flush all beat a flush.
Can an Ace count as a 1 in a straight?
Yes: A-2-3-4-5 is a five-high straight, the lowest possible straight. At the other end, 10-J-Q-K-A is an Ace-high straight. The Ace cannot connect both ends: Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
Does three of a kind beat two pair?
Yes, any three of a kind beats any two pair. Three 2s therefore beat two Aces and two Kings: the hand category takes priority over the ranks of its cards.
Are spades stronger than hearts?
No. All four suits have equal value when comparing hands. A spade flush does not automatically beat a heart flush: the five card ranks decide.
Must you use both your cards in Texas Hold’em?
No. You may use zero, one or two of them with the community cards to make the best five-card hand. In Omaha, however, you must use exactly two private cards.
Who wins when two players have a flush?
Compare their highest cards, then the second highest, and so on through the fifth. An A-J-9-6-2 flush beats A-J-8-7-3 because of the 9. If all five ranks match, the players split the pot.
Can I print the poker hand rankings?
Yes. The free PDF cheat sheet brings together all ten ranking entries, their cards and tie-breaking rules on one A4 page. You can also use the print button below.
Your cheat sheet, close at hand.
The rankings and tie-breaking rules on one A4 page. Keep it beside you during your first games.
Keep learning
You know the hands. Build the foundations of your game.
Explore our guides to understand game formats and learn to manage your poker budget.
Explore the guidesExplore further with a drill
Guide updated on 8 September 2026.
Rules reference : Hand rankings · PokerStars