Learn poker · The basics
Poker hand rankings,
from best to worst.
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: the full chart
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.
From weakest to strongest: high card → one pair → two pair → three of a kind (set or trips) → straight → flush → full house → four of a kind → straight flush → royal flush.
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Poker hand rankings
Texas Hold’em · From strongest to weakest
- 01
Royal flush
Probability (7 cards): 0.0032 %
Ten through Ace, all of the same suit.
Unbeatable. Players who share it also share the pot.
- 02
Straight flush
Probability (7 cards): 0.0279 %
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Compare the highest card in each straight flush.
- 03
Four of a kind
Probability (7 cards): 0.168 %
Four cards of the same rank.
Compare the four matching cards, then the fifth card if needed.
- 04
Full house
Probability (7 cards): 2.6 %
Three of a kind plus a pair.
Compare the three of a kind first, then the pair.
- 05
Flush
Probability (7 cards): 3.03 %
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
Compare all five ranks, from highest to lowest.
- 06
Straight
Probability (7 cards): 4.62 %
Five consecutive ranks in more than one suit.
The highest card in the straight decides the winner.
- 07
Three of a kind
Probability (7 cards): 4.83 %
Three cards of the same rank.
Compare the three matching cards, then the two remaining cards in order.
- 08
Two pair
Probability (7 cards): 23.5 %
Two pairs of different ranks.
Compare the higher pair, the lower pair, then the fifth card, in that order.
- 09
One pair
Probability (7 cards): 43.8 %
Two cards of the same rank.
Compare the pair, then the other three cards in order.
- 10
High card
Probability (7 cards): 17.4 %
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 · What beats what
What beats what in poker: neighbouring hands
Most mix-ups involve hands that sit next to each other in the rankings. Here are the short answers, with the odds of each hand over seven cards.
| Question | Stronger hand | Odds over 7 cards |
|---|---|---|
| Royal flush vs straight flush: which is stronger? | Royal flush | 0.0032 % / 0.0279 % |
| Straight flush vs four of a kind: which is stronger? | Straight flush | 0.0279 % / 0.168 % |
| Four of a kind vs full house: which is stronger? | Four of a kind | 0.168 % / 2.6 % |
| Full house vs flush: which is stronger? | Full house | 2.6 % / 3.03 % |
| Flush vs straight: which is stronger? | Flush | 3.03 % / 4.62 % |
| Straight vs three of a kind: which is stronger? | Straight | 4.62 % / 4.83 % |
| Three of a kind vs two pair: which is stronger? | Three of a kind | 4.83 % / 23.5 % |
| Two pair vs one pair: which is stronger? | Two pair | 23.5 % / 43.8 % |
| One pair vs high card: which is stronger? | One pair | 43.8 % / 17.4 % |
Odds are listed in the same order as the question. Rankings are based on five-card hands, which is why one pair and even two pair turn up more often than high card over seven cards, although they rank higher.
03 · 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.
04 · 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.
05 · 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
What next
Know the hands? Now practise using them
Knowing the rankings is step one. Step two is deciding what to do with your cards. Both tools below have a free way in, so you can try them before deciding whether a paid plan is worth it.
GTO Wizard
Free planTo understand which hands to play and why. The Free plan lets you browse preflop solutions and play a limited number of practice hands each day, right in your browser.
Partner offer: 10% off your first Starter, Premium or Elite plan when you create your account through our link.
PokerSnowie
10-day free trialTo learn by playing. Play complete hands against an AI and get feedback on each of your decisions.
PokerSnowie runs on Windows, Mac and iPhone/iPad (no Android or web version).
On PokerSnowie’s site, choose the free trial and sign up with your email.
This site contains affiliate links. We may earn commissions.
06 · 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.
Does a full house beat a flush?
Yes. A full house ranks above a flush and is rarer: about 2.6% of seven-card hands, against 3.03% for a flush.
Does four of a kind beat a full house?
Yes. Four of a kind beats any full house, even three Aces with a pair: four cards of the same rank appear in only about 0.168% of seven-card hands.
Does a straight flush beat four of a kind?
Yes. Only a higher straight flush, such as the royal flush, beats a straight flush. It appears in about 0.0279% of seven-card hands.
What makes a full house?
Three cards of one rank plus a pair, for example Q-Q-Q-8-8. If two players have a full house, compare the three of a kind first, then the pair.
What is a kicker?
A card outside the made hand that breaks ties between equal hands. If both players have a pair of Aces, a Queen kicker beats a Jack kicker. With high card, every card acts as a kicker, from highest to lowest.
What is the difference between a set and trips?
Both are three of a kind. A set uses a pocket pair plus one matching board card; trips use one of your cards plus a pair on the board. They rank the same.
How many poker hands are there?
Ten are usually listed, from royal flush to high card. Strictly speaking, a royal flush is the highest straight flush, so some lists show nine categories. It is also the rarest hand: about 0.0032% of seven-card hands.
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.
What should I learn after the poker hand rankings?
First, make reading the best five-card hand automatic: retake the quiz on this page and keep the cheat sheet nearby. Then move on to decisions, starting with which hands to play before the flop. GTO Wizard’s Free plan lets you browse preflop solutions and play a few practice hands each day, and PokerSnowie’s 10-day free trial lets you play complete hands against an AI and review your mistakes.
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.
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Guide updated on 20 October 2026.