Poker Hand Rankings Explained: From the Best Hands to the Worst
Discover everything you need to know about poker hand rankings, from Royal Flushes to High Cards. This comprehensive guide breaks down the strongest hands, explains tie-breaker scenarios, and offers strategic tips for each hand. Perfect for players looking to gain an edge, whether playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or other popular poker variants.
Basics: The Poker Deck
A standard poker deck has 52 cards, divided into four suits: ♠ (spades), ♥ (hearts), ♦ (diamonds), and ♣ (clubs). In poker games like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud, only one deck is used, and jokers are not included.
All suits are equal in value, though they are crucial for forming hands like flushes and straights.
Cards are ranked from 2 (lowest) to Ace (highest). Aces can be high or low, making sequences like A-2-3-4-5 possible. Understanding this structure is essential for applying good poker strategy.
Traditional Poker Hands Ranked in Order (Best to Worst)
These poker hand rankings apply to popular variants like Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud. Knowing these ten rankings—Royal Flush to High Card—gives you the foundation to confidently navigate these games, whether online or at the table. Mastering this hierarchy is crucial for making strategic decisions, maximising wins, and ensuring you’re prepared for any hand that comes your way.
Royal Flush
- A Royal Flush is the ultimate poker hand, consisting of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all of the same suit (e.g., A♦ K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦). It is unbeatable and incredibly rare, often celebrated in poker culture for its prestige. Most recreational players may only experience a few in their lifetime.
- Tie Situation: Impossible in standard play as no two players can have the same Royal Flush.
Straight Flush
- A Straight Flush is made up of five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 6♣ 5♣). It is extremely powerful, only losing to a Royal Flush or a higher Straight Flush. Although rare, it’s more common than a Royal Flush.
- Tie Situation: If two players have a Straight Flush, the hand with the highest top card wins.
Four of a Kind (Quads)
- Four of a Kind, or "Quads," consists of four cards of the same rank, such as 8♠ 8♣ 8♦ 8♥, plus one additional card (the kicker). This hand ranks high and is only beaten by a Straight Flush or Royal Flush.
- Tie Situation: If two players have Quads, the one with the higher set wins. If these are the same, the kicker decides the outcome.
Full House
- A Full House is made up of three cards of one rank and two of another (e.g., K♠ K♣ K♦ 4♠ 4♣). The three-of-a-kind portion determines its strength, followed by the pair. It ranks above a Flush but below Four of a Kind.
- Tie Situation: The player with the higher three-of-a-kind wins. If those match, the higher pair decides the winner.
Flush
- A Flush is made up of five cards from the same suit that are not in a sequence (e.g., K♠ 10♠ 7♠ 5♠ 2♠). Its strength is determined by the highest card in the hand, and if necessary, the next highest cards are used as tie-breakers.
- Tie Situation: If two players have a Flush, the one with the highest card wins. If tied, subsequent cards are compared until a winner is found.
Straight
- A Straight is five consecutive cards of different suits (e.g., 9♠ 8♥ 7♦ 6♣ 5♠). Aces can act as high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (5-4-3-2-A). This hand is strong but ranks below a Flush.
- Tie Situation: The Straight with the highest top card wins. If both are identical, the pot is split.
Three of a Kind (Trips)
- Three of a Kind, often called “Trips” or “Set,” includes three cards of the same rank (e.g., J♦ J♠ J♣) and two unrelated cards. It ranks above Two Pair but below a Straight.
- Tie Situation: The player with the higher set wins. If tied, the highest kicker (and the next if necessary) decides the winner.
Two Pair
- Two Pair consists of two different pairs and a fifth unrelated card (e.g., 10♠ 10♣ 4♦ 4♠ 7♣). The higher pair is considered first, followed by the second pair and then the kicker.
- Tie Situation: The highest pair is compared first. If equal, the second pair is compared. If both match, the kicker decides the winner.
One Pair
- One Pair includes two cards of the same rank and three unrelated cards (e.g., 6♥ 6♠ K♦ 9♣ 3♦). It ranks above a High Card but below Two Pair.
- Tie Situation: The highest pair wins. If both pairs match, the highest kicker is compared, and so on if needed.
High Card
- When no other combination is formed, the hand is valued based on the highest single card (e.g., A♣ 10♠ 9♥ 5♦ 2♠). This is the weakest and most common hand in poker.
- Tie Situation: If players have the same high card, the next highest card is compared, continuing down until a difference is found.
Poker Hands Odds and Probability
When there are 52 cards in play and 2,598,960 possible five-card combinations, you can calculate the odds of getting any specific hand by dividing the number of ways that hand can occur by the total combinations. The odds remain the same whether your playing Texas Hold'em, Omaha Poker, or even 5 Card Draw.
For example, a Royal Flush has 4 possible ways (one per suit), so the odds are:
This formula applies similarly to other hands, helping players understand the probability of different outcomes.
| Hand Ranking | Odds of Being Dealt | Probability (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1 in 649,740 | 0.000154% |
| Straight Flush | 1 in 72,193 | 0.00139% |
| Four of a Kind | 1 in 4,165 | 0.0240% |
| Full House | 1 in 693 | 0.1441% |
| Flush | 1 in 508 | 0.1965% |
| Straight | 1 in 254 | 0.3925% |
| Three of a Kind | 1 in 47 | 2.1128% |
| Two Pair | 1 in 21 | 4.7539% |
| One Pair | 1 in 2.37 | 42.2569% |
| High Card | 1 in 1 | 50.1177% |
Best Starting Hands
In Texas Hold’em, starting hands are your initial advantage and set the stage for the rest of the hand. A strong starting hand means higher odds of winning, allowing you to make confident bets and raises.
Understanding which hands to play gives you a solid foundation, helping you avoid risky situations early on. Below is a breakdown of the best starting hands, tips on how to play them, and their odds, helping you make smarter decisions right from the start.
Top Poker Hands and Strategic Insights
- Pocket Aces (AA)
- Analysis: The strongest starting hand in poker, commonly known as "Bullets." Pocket Aces give you a huge advantage pre-flop, winning about 85% of the time when facing a single opponent.
- Strategy: Always raise or re-raise to build the pot and eliminate players with drawing hands.
- Pocket Kings (KK)
- Analysis: The second-best starting hand, known as "Cowboys." While strong, it’s vulnerable if an Ace appears on the board.
- Strategy: Aggressively bet pre-flop. However, if an Ace shows on the flop, play cautiously.
- Pocket Queens (QQ)
- Analysis: A powerful starting hand, but slightly more vulnerable than Kings if overcards appear.
- Strategy: Raise pre-flop, but if higher cards show up post-flop, proceed with caution, especially in multi-way pots.
- Ace-King Suited (AKs)
- Analysis: An excellent drawing hand with the potential to hit top pairs, flushes, and straights.
- Strategy: A strong hand to raise with pre-flop, especially when in position. It has high potential, but if you miss the flop, be mindful of how you proceed.
- Pocket Jacks (JJ)
- Analysis: Strong but can be tricky to play, as it's vulnerable to overcards.
- Strategy: Raise pre-flop, but if overcards appear on the flop, tread carefully. It's best to assess the action before committing further chips.
- Pocket Tens (TT)
- Analysis: Another solid starting hand, but often vulnerable to higher cards on the flop.
- Strategy: Play aggressively pre-flop, but proceed cautiously if an overcard hits the board.
- Ace-Queen Suited (AQs)
- Analysis: A strong hand with good drawing potential for straights and flushes.
- Strategy: Raise pre-flop and continue with aggression if you connect with the flop. If you miss, consider your position on the poker table before betting.
- Ace-Jack Suited (AJs)
- Analysis: Similar to Ace-Queen, but slightly weaker. It has good potential for flushes and straights.
- Strategy: Raise from late position and play cautiously if you don’t connect with the flop.
- King-Queen Suited (KQs)
- Analysis: A strong drawing hand with great straight and flush possibilities.
- Strategy: Raise pre-flop, especially when in position. If the flop doesn’t connect, play cautiously.
- Pocket Nines (99)
- Analysis: A decent hand, but vulnerable to overcards.
- Strategy: Play aggressively pre-flop but proceed with caution on the flop, especially in multi-way pots.
Misleading Poker Hands & Common Pitfalls
When playing poker, certain hands can seem stronger than they are, leading to costly mistakes. Recognising these common traps and learning strategic tips can help you make better decisions, avoid pitfalls, and maximise your winning potential during gameplay.
| Hand Type | Why It’s Misleading | Tip for Avoiding the Trap |
|---|---|---|
| Low Flushes | Vulnerable to higher flushes when the board has high-suited cards. | Be cautious when others show aggression, especially with high-suited cards on the board. |
| Small Straights | Easily beaten by higher straights. | Fold or play cautiously if the board shows higher cards. |
| Weak Pairs | Can appear strong pre-flop but become weak if higher cards appear post-flop. | Avoid overcommitting chips unless you improve to trips or better. |
| Overvaluing High Card Hands | Often loses post-flop when no improvement is made. | Avoid bluffing unless you have a strong read on your opponent. |
| Unsuited Connectors | Lower potential compared to suited connectors for building strong hands. | Focus on playing suited connectors for better drawing odds. |
Understanding Tie Situations
A kicker in poker is a card used to break ties when two or more players have hands of the same rank. It is the highest card outside of the primary combination (like a pair or three-of-a-kind).
Let’s look at a few examples:
- Two Pair vs Two Pair
If two players both have Two Pair (e.g., Q♠ Q♦ 7♣ 7♥ vs. Q♠ Q♦ 6♣ 6♥), the higher pair (Queens) is compared first. If both players have the same higher pair, the second pair (7 vs. 6) decides the winner. If both pairs match, the kicker (fifth card) breaks the tie. - Flush vs Flush
If two players have a flush, such as 9♠ 7♠ 6♠ 4♠ 2♠ vs. 10♠ 8♠ 6♠ 3♠ 2♠, the highest card (10♠) wins. If they match, the next highest card (the kicker) is compared, and this continues until a winner is found. - High card vs High Card
In a showdown where no players form a pair or higher, the highest card is used. If players share the same high card, the kicker card is compared (e.g., A♠ 10♦ vs. A♠ 9♣).
Which Poker Hand Is Better? - Test Your Knowledge
Here are some real scenarios of poker hands your are likely to come across. Test your knowledge of which hand beats which, so you can act fast at the table.
| Player 1's Hand | Player 2's Hand | Winning Hand | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ (Royal Flush) | 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ (Straight Flush) | Player 1 (Royal Flush) | Royal Flush is the highest-ranking hand in poker. |
| 4♦ 4♠ 4♣ 4♥ 8♦ (Four of a Kind) | 3♦ 3♠ 3♣ 3♥ K♣ (Four of a Kind) | Player 1 (Four of a Kind) | Higher quads (4s vs. 3s) wins. |
| A♦ A♣ A♠ Q♠ Q♦ (Full House) | K♦ K♠ K♣ 10♠ 10♣ (Full House) | Player 1 (Full House) | Higher three-of-a-kind (Aces vs. Kings) wins. |
| J♠ 9♠ 7♠ 5♠ 3♠ (Flush) | J♦ 10♦ 7♦ 6♦ 4♦ (Flush) | Player 2 (Flush) | Player 2’s flush has a higher top card (10 vs. 9). |
| 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♣ 6♣ (Straight) | 7♦ 6♠ 5♦ 4♠ 3♣ (Straight) | Player 1 (Straight) | Higher straight (10-high vs. 7-high) wins. |
| 6♣ 6♠ 6♦ 9♦ 2♠ (Three of a Kind) | 5♦ 5♠ 5♣ 10♣ J♠ (Three of a Kind) | Player 1 (Three of a Kind) | Higher set (6s vs. 5s) wins. |
| 8♠ 8♦ 3♠ 3♣ Q♠ (Two Pair) | 8♠ 8♣ 2♦ 2♠ K♠ (Two Pair) | Player 2 (Two Pair) | Higher kicker (King vs. Queen) breaks the tie. |
| 5♠ 5♣ 10♦ 8♠ 4♠ (One Pair) | 5♦ 5♥ 9♣ 8♣ 2♣ (One Pair) | Player 1 (One Pair) | Higher kicker (10 vs. 9) breaks the tie. |
| A♠ 10♠ 8♦ 5♠ 3♠ (High Card) | A♣ 9♠ 8♠ 6♣ 4♠ (High Card) | Player 1 (High Card) | Second highest card (10 vs. 9) decides the winner. |
Hand Ranking in Poker Variants
Although most of the common poker variants use the same hand ranking approach described above, lesser-known variants different approaches. This affects the strategy and the goal for winning hands in these games. Here's a detailed look other variants approach hand rankings:
- Badugi: Prioritises unique ranks and suits, penalising pairs or matching suits.
- Deuce to Seven Lowball: Focuses on low cards while avoiding straights and flushes, with Aces high.
- Ace to Five Lowball: Emphasises low card values without penalising straights or flushes, with Aces as the lowest.
Badugi
Deuce to Seven Lowball
Ace to Five Lowball (California Lowball)
Conclusion
Understanding poker hand rankings is crucial for making smart, confident decisions at the table. With this guide, you now have the tools to evaluate hands, recognise tie-breakers, and identify the best starting hands. Apply this knowledge through practice—whether online poker, with friends, or using training apps—and keep refining your skills. For more advanced strategies, explore our resources and take your game to the next level.
Poker Hand Rankings FAQ
Emily is our seasoned content writer. She writes easy to read and helpful game guides, so you can quickly understand the rules of each game and get some useful tips that can help boost your chances of winning.
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