Poker Hand Rankings: From High Card Through Royal Flush

The Bedrock of Every Poker Variant

Whether you are seated at a Texas Hold'em table, playing Omaha, or enjoying Five-Card Draw, hand rankings stay consistent across them all. Committing these to memory is the most important first step any aspiring poker player can take.

All Ten Hands Ranked (Strongest to Weakest)

#

1. Royal Flush

A, K, Q, J, 10 — all in one suit. The unbeatable pinnacle. Odds: roughly 1 in 649,740.

#

2. Straight Flush

Five sequential cards sharing a suit (e.g., 7-8-9-10-J of hearts). Odds: roughly 1 in 72,193.

#

3. Four of a Kind

Four cards of identical rank (e.g., four Queens). Odds: roughly 1 in 4,165.

#

4. Full House

Three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g., three Jacks and two 7s). Odds: roughly 1 in 694.

#

5. Flush

Five cards of one suit, not in order. Odds: roughly 1 in 509.

#

6. Straight

Five consecutive cards across mixed suits (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9). Odds: roughly 1 in 255.

#

7. Three of a Kind

Three cards sharing the same rank. Odds: roughly 1 in 47.

#

8. Two Pair

Two distinct pairs (e.g., two Kings and two 5s). Odds: roughly 1 in 21.

#

9. One Pair

A single pair of matching-rank cards. Odds: roughly 1 in 2.4.

#

10. High Card

When no ranked hand materialises, the highest individual card determines strength. This is the most frequent holding.

Resolving Ties

When two players hold the same hand category, kickers — the remaining non-paired cards — break the tie. For instance, if both players show a pair of Aces, the one with the highest side card takes the pot.

What the Rankings Mean Strategically

Knowing the rankings is only half the battle; understanding their relative rarity is what sharpens your play. A flush is uncommon enough to carry real power yet frequent enough that you will see them regularly. Calibrate your decisions around the probability of opponents holding specific hands.