Poker Hand Rankings
From the mighty royal flush down to a lonely high card, here is every poker hand ranked from strongest to weakest, with clear examples.
Knowing the order of hands is the first step to playing with confidence. Study the ten hands below and you will always know where you stand at the table.
Royal Flush
The rarest and strongest hand in poker: the ace, king, queen, jack and ten all of the same suit. Nothing beats it. If you ever make one, take a moment to enjoy it.
Straight Flush
Any five cards in sequence that also share the same suit. When two players both hold a straight flush, the one with the highest top card wins. It is a genuine monster and almost always the best hand at the table.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank, such as all four queens. The fifth card, the kicker, only matters if two players somehow hold the same quads.
Full House
Three of a kind combined with a pair. If two players both have a full house, the higher three of a kind decides the winner.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit that are not in sequence. When more than one player makes a flush, the highest card in the flush wins, then the next, and so on.
Straight
Five cards in consecutive order using more than one suit. The ace can play high or low, so both ace to five and ten to ace count as straights.
Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards. The two extra cards act as kickers if two players hold the same trips.
Two Pair
Two separate pairs plus one side card. The highest pair is compared first, then the second pair, and finally the kicker.
One Pair
Just two cards of the same rank. It wins plenty of pots in casual games, with the three remaining cards used as kickers to break ties.
High Card
When no one makes anything, the highest card wins. An ace-high hand beats a king-high hand, and if those tie the next card is compared.
Quick Reference
| 1 | Royal Flush | A K Q J 10, all one suit |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Five in sequence, one suit |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank |
| 4 | Full House | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| 5 | Flush | Five cards of one suit |
| 6 | Straight | Five in sequence, mixed suits |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank |
| 8 | Two Pair | Two different pairs |
| 9 | One Pair | One matching pair |
| 10 | High Card | Highest single card |
Tips for Beginners
- Memorise the top and bottom of the list first, then fill in the middle over time.
- Remember that a flush always beats a straight, a point new players often mix up.
- When two hands share the same rank, the kicker, or highest unused card, breaks the tie.
- The ace is flexible: it can be the highest card or act as the one in a five-high straight.