Poker Hand Rankings

Texas Hold'em uses the standard nine-tier poker hand ranking, from the rare straight flush down to a plain high card. Here is every hand from strongest to weakest, with an example and the rough odds of making it by the river when you start with two hole cards.

1. Straight Flush (incl. Royal Flush)

Five sequential cards, all the same suit. The strongest possible straight flush — A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ — is called a royal flush and is the rarest made hand in poker.

• Example: 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
• Odds of flopping or making one by the river: ~0.03%
• Tiebreaker: highest top card wins. A♠K♠Q♠J♠10♠ beats K♠Q♠J♠10♠9♠.

2. Four of a Kind (Quads)

Four cards of the same rank. The fifth card (the "kicker") settles ties when both players have the same quads — extremely rare in practice.

• Example: J♠ J♥ J♦ J♣ + 2♠
• Odds of making by the river: ~0.17%
• Tiebreaker: rank of the four cards, then kicker.

3. Full House (Boat)

Three of a kind plus a pair. Often called "a boat" — described by the trips first: kings full of fives.

• Example: K♠ K♥ K♦ 5♣ 5♠
• Odds of making by the river: ~2.6%
• Tiebreaker: three-of-a-kind rank first, then pair rank.

4. Flush

Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. Suits are equal — there is no "spades beats hearts" in poker.

• Example: A♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 3♦
• Odds of making by the river: ~3.0%
• Tiebreaker: compare the highest card, then the second-highest, and so on.

5. Straight

Five sequential cards of mixed suits. The ace can play high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (A-2-3-4-5, the "wheel"), but cannot wrap around (Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight).

• Example: 10♠ 9♦ 8♣ 7♥ 6♠
• Odds of making by the river: ~4.6%
• Tiebreaker: highest top card wins.

6. Three of a Kind (Trips / Set)

Three cards of the same rank. When the three cards include a pocket pair, it's called a set — generally the most profitable made hand because it's well disguised.

• Example: Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 7♠ 4♣
• Odds of making by the river: ~4.8%
• Tiebreaker: trips rank, then highest two kickers.

7. Two Pair

Two pairs of different ranks plus one other card. Described by both pair ranks: aces and eights.

• Example: A♠ A♦ 8♥ 8♠ 4♣
• Odds of making by the river: ~23.5%
• Tiebreaker: highest pair, then second pair, then kicker.

8. Pair

Two cards of the same rank plus three unrelated cards. The most common winning hand at lower stakes.

• Example: 9♠ 9♥ A♦ J♠ 4♣
• Odds of making by the river: ~43.8%
• Tiebreaker: pair rank, then highest three kickers in order.

9. High Card

Five unrelated cards. Whoever holds the highest card wins. If the highest cards tie, compare the second-highest, and so on.

• Example: A♠ J♦ 8♥ 5♣ 3♠
• Odds of finishing with no better hand: ~17%
• Tiebreaker: top card, then next, then next, etc.

Common myths

"A flush beats a full house"

False. A full house beats a flush. The full ordering is: straight flush > quads > full house > flush > straight.

"Spades beat hearts"

False. Suits are equal in standard poker. If two players have the same flush ranks (e.g., both A-K-J-9-3 of any suit), the pot is split.

"Three of a kind beats two pair"

True. Trips outrank two pair, even aces-up.

Frequently asked questions

Practice these hands for free

Open the table and play a few hands of free Texas Hold'em — the showdown screen labels each winning hand so you learn rankings by playing them. New here? Read how to play Texas Hold'em or browse the poker glossary.