The 10 Poker Hand Rankings
Every poker player needs to know hand rankings by heart. Whether you play Texas Hold'em, Omaha, or any other variant, the same ten hand rankings determine who wins at showdown. Here they are from strongest to weakest.
1. Royal Flush
A, K, Q, J, T all of the same suit. This is the best possible hand in poker and is unbeatable. The probability of being dealt a royal flush in a five-card hand is roughly 1 in 649,740.
2. Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts. A straight flush loses only to a higher straight flush or a royal flush. The ace can play low in A-2-3-4-5 (a "steel wheel"), making it the lowest straight flush.
3. Four of a Kind (Quads)
Four cards of the same rank plus any fifth card. Quad aces is the strongest four of a kind. When two players have quads, the higher rank wins. If both have the same quads (possible with community cards), the kicker decides.
4. Full House (Boat)
Three of a kind plus a pair. For example, K-K-K-7-7 is "kings full of sevens." When comparing full houses, the three-of-a-kind portion is compared first. K-K-K-2-2 beats Q-Q-Q-A-A.
5. Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. When two players have a flush, the highest card wins. If the highest cards match, compare the second-highest, and so on. A flush with A-K-Q-J-9 beats A-K-Q-J-8.
6. Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits. The ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-T, the "broadway" straight) or low (A-2-3-4-5, the "wheel"). The ace cannot wrap around, so Q-K-A-2-3 is not a valid straight.
7. Three of a Kind (Trips/Set)
Three cards of the same rank. In Hold'em, a "set" means you have a pocket pair that matched a board card, while "trips" means two of your three-of-a-kind are on the board. Sets are generally stronger because they are more disguised.
8. Two Pair
Two different pairs plus a kicker. For example, A-A-8-8-K. The highest pair is compared first, then the second pair, then the kicker. A-A-2-2-K beats K-K-Q-Q-A because aces beat kings.
9. One Pair
Two cards of the same rank plus three unrelated cards. Pair of aces is the best one-pair hand. Kickers matter: A-A-K-Q-J beats A-A-K-Q-T because the fifth card (J vs. T) is the tiebreaker.
10. High Card
When no player has any of the above combinations, the highest card wins. If two players have the same high card, the second-highest card is compared, and so on down to the fifth card.
Quick Reference Table
| Rank | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A K Q J T (all spades) |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9 8 7 6 5 (all hearts) |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | J J J J 3 |
| 4 | Full House | K K K 7 7 |
| 5 | Flush | A J 8 5 2 (all clubs) |
| 6 | Straight | T 9 8 7 6 |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Q Q Q 9 4 |
| 8 | Two Pair | A A 8 8 K |
| 9 | One Pair | T T A K 3 |
| 10 | High Card | A Q 9 6 3 |
Tips for Remembering
- A flush always beats a straight. Think "flush" sounds fancier.
- A full house beats both a flush and a straight because it combines two hand types.
- Quads beat a full house. Four of something always beats three of something.
- The wheel (A-2-3-4-5) is the lowest straight but still beats three of a kind.
- Suits are never ranked in standard poker. A spade flush and a heart flush of equal ranks split the pot.
Hand Rankings in Texas Hold'em vs. Omaha
The hand rankings are identical across poker variants. The difference is how you form your hand. In Hold'em, you use any combination of your two hole cards and five community cards to make the best five-card hand. In Omaha, you must use exactly two of your four hole cards and exactly three of the five community cards.
Because Omaha gives each player more cards to work with, stronger hands appear more frequently. A full house in Omaha is far more common than in Hold'em, so calibrate your expectations accordingly.
Next Steps
- Learn the rules of Texas Hold'em if you're just getting started.
- Browse preflop charts to see which starting hands to play from each position.
- Test your knowledge with our interactive poker quiz.