These are standard hand rankings for most poker games and apply to all high-hand poker variations including Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Stud.
You'll find a printable poker hand rankings chart below the hand rankings as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about poker hands and poker hand ranking.
Poker Hands Ranked Highest to Lowest
| Hand Type | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush |
A
A
K
K
Q
Q
J
J
10
10
| A straight from a ten to an ace with all five cards of the same suit. In poker all suits are ranked equally. |
| Straight Flush |
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
| Any straight with all five cards of the same suit. |
| Four of a Kind |
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
K
K
| Any four cards of the same rank. If two players share the same Four of a Kind (on the board), the bigger fifth card (the "kicker") decides who wins the pot. |
| Full House |
A
A
A
A
A
A
K
K
K
K
| Any three cards of the same rank together with any two cards of the same rank. Our example shows "Aces full of Kings" and it is a bigger full house than "Kings full of Aces." |
| Flush |
A
A
10
10
7
7
6
6
2
2
| Any five cards of the same suit (not consecutive). The highest card of the five determines the rank of the flush. Our example shows an Ace-high flush, which is the highest possible. |
| Straight |
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
A
A
| Any five consecutive cards of different suits. Aces can count as either a high or a low card. Our example shows a five-high straight, which is the lowest possible straight. |
| Three of a Kind |
A
A
A
A
A
A
K
K
Q
Q
| Any three cards of the same rank. Our example shows three-of-a-kind Aces, with a King and a Queen as side cards - the best possible three of a kind. |
| Two Pair |
A
A
A
A
K
K
K
K
Q
Q
| Any two cards of the same rank together with another two cards of the same rank. Our example shows the best possible two-pair, Aces and Kings. The highest pair of the two determines the rank of the two-pair. |
| One Pair |
A
A
A
A
K
K
Q
Q
J
J
| Any two cards of the same rank. Our example shows the best possible one-pair hand. |
| High Card |
A
A
K
K
Q
Q
J
J
9
9
| Any hand not in the above-mentioned hands. Our example shows the best possible high-card hand. |
These are standard hand rankings for most poker games and apply to all high-hand poker variations including Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Stud.
You'll find a printable poker hand rankings chart below the hand rankings as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about poker hands and poker hand ranking.
Poker Hands Ranked Highest to Lowest
Want a copy of it next to you at the poker table while you play? Print out our Poker Hand Rankings PDF:
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Which Poker Hand Wins Calculator
If you're in the middle of a hand and can't figure out which poker hand wins the pot, go to our » Which Poker Hand Wins Calculator.
Just plug in your cards, your opponent's card and the board cards, hit the button and it'll tell you exactly which player has the winning poker hand!
Poker Hand Rankings FAQ
-
Does a straight beat a flush?
No. This is one of the most common misconceptions in poker. In Texas Holdem a flush (five cards of the same suit) always beats a straight (five cards in a numeric sequence). A straight-flush, which is five cards of the same suit in consecutive order, beats both hands. -
What poker hand is better - two pair or three of a kind?
Three-of-a-kind always beats two-pair. The only “made” poker hand that two-pair beats is one pair. -
Does “All Reds” or “All Blacks” beat a straight?
“All Reds” or “All Blacks” doesn’t beat/mean anything in poker. To make a flush in poker you have to have five cards of the same SUIT. That means five spades, hearts, clubs or diamonds. Having all one color is not a poker hand. -
Does it matter if I have higher flush cards?
It does. In No-Limit Hold’em if you have a flush with an ace as the highest card and your opponent has a flush with a king as the high card, you win. The easiest way to understand who wins is to lay out your complete five-card hand and compare it with your opponent’s hand. If anyone has a higher card, that person wins (obviously you both share the cards on the board). -
Which suit in poker is ranked the highest?
In virtually all poker games, suits don’t count. Spades aren’t better than hearts, clubs aren’t higher than diamonds, etc. If you have the same poker hand as your opponent but in different suits you simply split the pot. This misconception is from other games where suits do matter. -
Are Poker Hand Rankings different for other poker games?
Actually, yes. For the main poker variations - Texas Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, 5-Card Draw - hand rankings are the same. But for split games - Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud Hi-Lo - half of the pot is awarded to the lowest hand. For lowball games like 2-7 Triple Draw and Razz only the lowest hand will win the pot. Straights and flushes don't count in Razz while in 2-7 they actually count against you. -
How are hands ranked in 3-Card Poker?
3-Card Poker is a casino table game and, while it does have the name 'poker' in its title, it isn't exactly the same game. The poker hand rankings used are the same as in standard poker variations with a major exception - straights and flushes are reversed. That means in 3-Card Poker a straight BEATS a flush. -
What do I beat if I have 3 Pairs?
Absolutely nothing. You just use your two highest pairs. There is no such thing as “3-pair” in poker. -
Is there a difference between Trips and a Set? Which is better?
Trips and a set are the same hand: Three-of-a-kind. The difference is how you acquire three-of-a-kind. A set is made when your pocket pair hits one card on the board. Trips are made when you utilize two cards on the board and one in your hand to make three-of-a-kind. Because they are much easier to conceal when betting, sets are generally considered the better hand. -
What if there’s a straight on the board?
You chop the pot. That’s provided that no player has a better hand (flush or higher) or someone has a higher straight using the cards in their hand. -
What is a Four-Flush in poker?
A four-flush is when you use four cards of the same suit on the board and one from your hand to complete a flush. It’s worth noting this is one of the key differences between No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha. In PLO you have to use two of your cards so you can’t have a four-flush. -
What if I have the same pair as my opponent?
If both players have the same pair, the highest non-matched cards (the "kicker') are compared to determine the winner. If both players have the same high card, the next highest cards are compared. If both players have the exact same pair AND the exact same kicker cards, the pot is split. -
Can you make a Straight with 4-3-2-A-K?
No. While the ace can make both the lowest straight (A-2-3-4-5) and the highest straight (A-K-Q-J-10) it can’t wrap around. -
Does my 3-3-3-A-A Full House beat my opponent’s 8-8-8-K-K?
Nope. When it comes to full houses the highest of the three-of-a-kinds determines the winner. In the example above the full house with three 8s tops the full house with three 3s. -
Who wins with Four-of-a-Kind on the board?
The player with the highest kicker. For instance if the board is 8-8-8-8-5, you have A-K and your opponent has K-Q, you win. (Your best five-card hand is 8-8-8-8-A, his is 8-8-8-8-K). If the board was 8-8-8-8-A you’d split the pot as the best five-card hand for both of you is 8-8-8-8-A. -
What’s the difference Between Four-of-a-Kind and “Quads”?
Nothing. They’re exactly the same hand.
Who wins 4 7 9 2 of the same suit an a As of a different suit an the dealer has a straight who wins in As high
@Mike: I don’t quite understand the question. Are you asking who wins if the board shows a straight? In that case – unless someone can beat that straight – the pot is split between all players.
In seven card stud if there were 2 straight flushes with identical cards would the hand be chopped or would the winner be the suit detirmene the winner?
@Nedda, In that case it’s a chop. The only time suits count in stud is when the bring-in needs to be determined (if two players have the lowest card showing, let’s say a 2, the player with the lowest suit has to post the bring-in. Suites are ranked alphabetically: clubs < diamonds < hearts < spades).
in omaha if the 5 on the board were 3As,8,9 and i have a one As ,2,6,and 10 do i have 4 As or does one of my remaning 3 cards need to match the 8 or 9?
Hey Ronald, yes you need to use two cards from the four in your hand, so Ace can be one of them, giving you quads.
Hello all… question, please…
The board shows unsuited AKQ43. Player A has 109, Player B has 108. Does player A win with 10 & 9 in play as high cards, beating Player B’s 10 & 8 in play? Just wanted to be sure that both pocket cards are in play as high cards and not just one of the hold cards as a single kicker.
Thanks!
Hey Bob, the winner will be the player with the higher kicker – so T9
What wins when all players have a flush on the river? Is it a split pot or does it go to next best / highest run or card?
Hey Peter,
The player with the highest flush would win. Example Ace high flush beats King high flush – and so on.
7 card stud
each player has 2 pair
jacks and 4
9 and 7
who wins
When comparing 2 two-pair hands the better high pair always win. In this case the player with Jacks and Fours wins the pot because Jacks are higher than Nines.