Poker Hand Rankings: A Quick Reference

If you are new to poker, learn the hand rankings before you worry about strategy. Most beginner mistakes are not clever tactical errors; they are basic misreads of what beats what.

This page is a quick reference for the standard rankings used in most poker variants, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Always check the rules of the specific game you are playing, because some variants use different hand requirements.

The rankings, strongest to weakest

1. Royal flush: A-K-Q-J-10, all of the same suit. The best possible hand.
2. Straight flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts.
3. Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank, such as four queens.
4. Full house: Three of one rank plus a pair of another, such as K-K-K-7-7.
5. Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
6. Straight: Five consecutive cards of mixed suits, such as 8-7-6-5-4.
7. Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank.
8. Two pair: Two cards of one rank plus two of another.
9. One pair: Two cards of the same rank.
10. High card: None of the above; the highest card decides.

How ties are broken

When two players have the same category, compare the ranks involved.

• Two pair: Compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair, then the kicker.
• One pair: Compare the pair, then the remaining three cards in descending order.
• Flush: Compare the highest card, then the next, and so on.
• Straight: The highest card in the sequence decides. A-2-3-4-5 is a five-high straight, not an ace-high straight.
• Full house: Compare the three-of-a-kind rank first, then the pair.

If all five cards are identical in rank, the pot is split.

The ace can be high or low

In a straight, an ace can play high (10-J-Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3-4-5). It cannot wrap around, so Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.

Common beginner mistakes

• Thinking a flush beats a full house. It does not. A full house is stronger.
• Missing a straight on the board. Always check the five-card combination, not just your hole cards.
• Assuming suits break ties. Suits do not matter for hand ranking in standard poker. If two players have the same hand, the pot is split.
• Misreading a board pair. If the board pairs, a player may have a full house without holding a pair in hand.
• Forgetting kickers. In Texas Hold’em, the best five-card hand can include cards from the board.

A note on Omaha

Omaha uses the same hand rankings, but you must use exactly two of your four hole cards. This changes which hands are possible and is a common source of confusion for Hold’em players.

Practise the basics

Before your next session, deal yourself a few random boards and name the best possible hand. This simple exercise builds the pattern recognition you need to avoid costly misreads.

For strategy fundamentals, read our poker strategy basics and preflop ranges guide.