Poker Hand Rankings: The Complete Cheat Sheet
Knowing the hand rankings is the foundation of poker. Whether you're brand new or just need a quick refresher mid-game, this guide covers every hand from the unbeatable Royal Flush down to a lonely High Card.
These rankings apply to Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and most other popular poker variants.
The Rankings
1. Royal Flush
A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.
The best hand in poker. If you get one, try not to look too excited.
Example: A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
2. Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Almost as rare as a Royal Flush. The higher the top card, the better the hand.
Example: 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
3. Four of a Kind (Quads)
Four cards of the same rank.
If two players both have quads (extremely rare), the higher rank wins. The fifth card (kicker) only matters if the quads are on the board.
Example: J♣ J♦ J♥ J♠ 4♠
4. Full House (Boat)
Three of a kind plus a pair.
When comparing full houses, the three-of-a-kind part decides the winner first. If those tie, the pair breaks it.
Example: 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 6♣ 6♠
5. Flush
Five cards of the same suit, in any order.
If two players both have a flush, the one with the highest card wins. If the highest card ties, compare the second highest, and so on.
Example: A♦ J♦ 8♦ 5♦ 3♦
6. Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits.
The ace can play high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (5-4-3-2-A), but it can't wrap around (like Q-K-A-2-3). If two players have a straight, the one with the higher top card wins.
Example: 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣
7. Three of a Kind (Trips or a Set)
Three cards of the same rank.
"Trips" means two are on the board and one is in your hand. A "set" means you have a pocket pair and one matching card hit the board. Sets are harder to spot and usually win bigger pots.
Example: 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ K♣ 3♠
8. Two Pair
Two different pairs.
The higher pair is compared first. If those match, the lower pair decides. If both pairs match, the fifth card (kicker) breaks the tie.
Example: A♠ A♣ 7♥ 7♦ 2♠
9. One Pair
Two cards of the same rank.
If two players have the same pair, the highest kicker wins. This is the hand you'll see most often.
Example: K♥ K♠ 9♦ 6♣ 2♥
10. High Card
Nothing. No pair, no straight, no flush.
When nobody has anything, the highest card wins. If those tie, compare the second highest, and so on. You'll win with high card more often than you'd expect.
Example: A♣ J♠ 8♦ 4♥ 2♣
What Beats What: Quick Comparison
| Hand | Example | Beats everything below |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | Everything |
| Straight Flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ | Quads and below |
| Four of a Kind | J♣ J♦ J♥ J♠ 4♠ | Full House and below |
| Full House | 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 6♣ 6♠ | Flush and below |
| Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 5♦ 3♦ | Straight and below |
| Straight | 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣ | Three of a Kind and below |
| Three of a Kind | 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ K♣ 3♠ | Two Pair and below |
| Two Pair | A♠ A♣ 7♥ 7♦ 2♠ | One Pair and below |
| One Pair | K♥ K♠ 9♦ 6♣ 2♥ | High Card |
| High Card | A♣ J♠ 8♦ 4♥ 2♣ | Nothing |
Common Situations That Confuse New Players
Two players both have a flush. Compare the highest card in each flush. The suit itself doesn't matter, only the card values. In Hold'em, suits are never used to break ties.
The board has a straight. If the five community cards make a straight and neither player can beat it with their hole cards, it's a split pot.
Full house vs. flush. A full house always beats a flush. This trips up a lot of beginners.
Ace-high straight vs. five-high straight. A-K-Q-J-10 (the "broadway" straight) beats 5-4-3-2-A (the "wheel"). When the ace plays low, it's the bottom of the straight, not the top.
Kickers matter. If you have A-K and your opponent has A-Q, and the board is A-8-5-3-2, you both have a pair of aces but your king kicker beats their queen kicker.
Tips for Remembering
The order gets intuitive fast, but here's a mental shortcut if you're just starting out:
- Pairs are common, flushes and straights are not. If you have either of those, you're probably doing well.
- More of the same rank is always better. One pair loses to two pair, which loses to three of a kind, which loses to four of a kind.
- A full house is just three of a kind and a pair combined. It beats both individually.
- Flush beats straight. This is the one people mix up most. Flushes are harder to make, so they rank higher.
Bookmark this page for your next game night. Or better yet, set up your next game on Poker Night so you can focus on playing instead of scorekeeping.