In poker, knowing the strength of your hand is essential to making smart decisions. Whether you’re playing Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Five Card Draw, the Poker Hand Rankings always follow the same rules. Understanding them will help you:

• Evaluate if your hand is strong or weak.
• Decide when to call, raise, or fold.
• Avoid mistakes when comparing your hand against opponents.

Here’s the full list of poker hands ranked from strongest to weakest, with examples and tie-breaking rules.

1. Royal Flush

• Description: The five highest cards in sequence, all of the same suit.
• Example: 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠
• Strength: The strongest possible hand in poker. Cannot be beaten.

2. Straight Flush

• Description: Any five consecutive cards of the same suit (not Royal).
• Example: 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥
• Tie-break: The straight flush with the highest top card wins.

3. Four of a Kind (Quads)

• Description: Four cards of the same rank.
• Example: 9♣ 9♦ 9♥ 9♠ + 2♦
• Tie-break: Higher quads win. If equal, the kicker (extra card) decides.

4. Full House

• Description: Three of a kind plus a pair.
• Example: Q♠ Q♦ Q♥ + 8♣ 8♠
• Tie-break: Compare the three-of-a-kind first, then the pair.

5. Flush

• Description: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
• Example: 2♠ 5♠ 7♠ J♠ K♠
• Tie-break: The highest card wins; if tied, compare the next highest, and so on.

6. Straight

• Description: Five cards in sequence of mixed suits.
• Example: 4♣ 5♦ 6♥ 7♠ 8♣
• Tie-break: The straight with the highest top card wins. Aces can be high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (5-4-3-2-A).

7. Three of a Kind (Trips / Set)

• Description: Three cards of the same rank.
• Example: 7♣ 7♦ 7♠ + 2♥ 9♣
• Tie-break: Higher trips win; if equal, compare kickers.

8. Two Pair

• Description: Two different pairs plus one kicker.
• Example: 10♣ 10♠ + 5♥ 5♦ + Q♣
• Tie-break: Higher pair wins first. If tied, compare the lower pair, then the kicker.

9. One Pair

• Description: One pair plus three other cards.
• Example: 6♦ 6♠ + 3♥ 9♣ K♠
• Tie-break: Compare the pair first, then kickers if needed.

10. High Card

• Description: No pair, straight, or flush. Hand strength depends on the highest card.
• Example: A♣ 7♦ 5♠ 3♥ 2♣
• Tie-break: Highest card wins, followed by next highest if tied.

Tips to Remember Poker Hand Rankings

1. Suits do not matter in ranking (except when forming a flush).
2. Aces can be high or low, depending on the straight.
3. In ties, compare by main combination first, then kicker cards.

FAQ

1. What is the strongest poker hand?
👉 Royal Flush – unbeatable.

2. If two players have a Full House, who wins?
👉 The player with the higher three-of-a-kind wins. If those are equal, compare the pair.

3. Does One Pair beat High Card?
👉 Yes, any pair is stronger than a high card hand.

4. Can multiple players have a Flush in Texas Hold’em?
👉 Yes. If the board shows five cards of the same suit, players share a flush. The one with the highest card in that suit wins.

Mastering Poker Hand Rankings is the foundation of becoming a confident poker player. Once you know the order of hands, you can make smarter choices and play with more confidence. Combine this knowledge with strategy, psychology, and patience, and you’ll elevate your poker game from luck to skill.

👉 Memorize the rankings, practice regularly, and you’ll be ready for any poker table.