As shown in the poker hand rankings chart, the order of poker hands (from the strongest to the weakest) is: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four-of-a-Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card.
You can also access this chart in PDF format by clicking on the following link: PDF chart.
In poker, particularly in variants like Texas Hold'em (the most commonly played variant), each player is dealt two hole cards (private cards), which only they can see. Then, five community cards (shared by all players) are placed in the center of the table throughout the betting rounds. The goal is to form the best five-card hand using a combination of your hole cards and the community cards. You can use:
Let's take an example to make this clearer. Imagine you have the following hole cards: A♦️, 4♥️
The community cards on the table are: K♥, Q♦️, 10♠️, J♦️, 8♣️
In this case, you form a suite (straight) by using the Ace from your hand and four of the community cards (K-Q-J-10). Your hand is a straight Ace-King-Queen-Jack-10. Your 4 of hearts is irrelevant, as the Ace is enough to complete the combination.
Here is a detailed explanation of the different poker hands, ranked from the weakest to the strongest.
1. High Card
When you haven't formed any of the combinations below, the highest card determines the strength of your hand.
If multiple players are in this situation, the highest card wins. If necessary, the next highest cards are compared to break the tie.
2. One Pair
When your hand includes two cards of the same rank.
If two players have a pair, the higher pair wins. If the pairs are the same, the remaining high card (called the kicker) is used to break the tie.
3. Two Pair
This hand consists of two pairs of cards with the same rank.
If two players have two pairs, the player with the highest pair wins. If the pairs are equal, the second pair is compared, and then the kicker if necessary.
Another example:
4. Three of a Kind
This combination consists of three cards of the same rank.
If multiple players have a three of a kind, the highest-ranked set wins.
5. Straight
A straight is made up of five consecutive cards.
A straight is composed of five consecutive cards.The Ace can be used either as a high card (above the King) or as a low card (before the 2). If multiple players have a straight, the highest one wins.
6. Flush
A flush consists of five cards of the same suit (spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs), but not in sequence.
If multiple players have a flush, the player with the highest card in their flush wins.
Another example:
Note, this is not a flush: 7♠️, 8♣️, J♠️, A♣️, 2♠️ ! Even though clubs and spades are both "black" suits, in poker, they are considered different suits. The same applies to diamonds and hearts.
7. Full House
A full house is a combination made up of three of a kind and a pair.
If two players have a full house, the player with the higher three of a kind wins. If both have the same three of a kind, the higher pair determines the winner.
8. Four of a Kind
A four of a kind consists of four cards of the same rank.
If two players have a four of a kind, the player with the higher-ranked set wins.
Another example:
9. Straight Flush
A straight flush is a sequence of five consecutive cards that are all of the same suit.
This is an extremely rare hand. If multiple players have a straight flush, the highest one wins.
10. Royal Flush
The best possible hand in poker. It consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit (note that this is a special case of a straight flush, the best possible straight flush). This hand is unbeatable.
Each poker hand has a specific probability of appearing, with the rarest being the royal flush and the most common being a pair.
Here are the probabilities of obtaining each poker hand if you go all the way to the river (i.e., with seven cards in play: your two hole cards and the five community cards):
Surprisingly, the probability of "having nothing" (high card) is lower than the probability of having a pair. Thus, in poker, especially in Texas Hold'em, it is common to form at least one combination.
However, it is important to note that these probabilities reflect the chances of obtaining each hand if the game goes all the way to the river, meaning when all 5 community cards (flop, turn, and river) are revealed. In practice, this scenario doesn't always occur, as players often fold before all the cards are shown.
To conclude, here is a summary of the main questions that beginner poker players often ask about the different hands in poker.
As explained earlier, the best hand in poker is the royal straight flush. It consists of five consecutive cards of the same suit, from 10 to Ace. For example: 10♠️, J♠️, Q♠️, K♠️ and A♠️.
The probability of receiving a royal flush is extremely low. In Texas Hold'em, it is about 0,0032% (if going to the river), which is roughly 1 in 31 250. In practice, most poker players will only see a few of these in their lifetime, and some may never see one at all.
If you and your opponent have the same hand, it's called a split pot. This means the pot is divided equally between the two of you.
This situation is rare, though, as your combinations must be exactly identical. In most cases, a difference in the kicker (the highest side card) is enough to determine a winner.
For example:
If you have the following three of a kind: 4♣️, 4♥️, 4♦️, K♥️, Q♣️ and your opponent has: 4♣️, 4♥️, 4♠️, 2♣️, Q♣️ you win because your kicker (K♥️) is higher than your opponent's (Q♣️).
No, there is no hierarchy between suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades) in poker.
Yes, a flush beats a straight. A flush is slightly rarer and therefore ranks higher than a straight in the poker hand hierarchy.
If you want to learn more about poker rules, feel free to check out our illustrated article on the rules of poker.
