Poker Hand Rankings: The Complete Order (With a Cheat Sheet)
Knowing the order of poker hands cold — without pausing to think — is the first skill every Texas Hold’em player needs. This guide lists all ten hands from strongest to weakest, shows exactly which beats which, and clears up the ties that trip up new players.
The 10 poker hands, strongest to weakest
| Rank | Hand | Example | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ T♠ | The highest straight flush: 10 to Ace, one suit |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ | Five in sequence, all one suit |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ 4♣ | All four cards of one rank |
| 4 | Full House | K K K 7 7 | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| 5 | Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 5♦ 2♦ | Five of one suit, not in sequence |
| 6 | Straight | 6 5 4 3 2 | Five in sequence, mixed suits |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | 8 8 8 K 2 | Three cards of one rank |
| 8 | Two Pair | J J 4 4 9 | Two different pairs |
| 9 | One Pair | A A 7 4 2 | Two cards of one rank |
| 10 | High Card | A Q 9 5 3 | No pair — your highest card plays |
How “best five-card hand” works in Hold’em
In Texas Hold’em you make your best five-card hand out of the seven cards available: your two hole cards plus the five community cards. You don’t have to use both hole cards — or even either of them. If the board is the best five cards, everyone still in the hand splits the pot (“playing the board”).
The ties beginners get wrong
- Flush vs. flush: The higher top card wins. A♦-high flush beats a K♦-high flush. If the top cards tie, compare the next, and so on.
- Straight vs. straight: The higher top card wins. The Ace can be low (A-2-3-4-5, the “wheel”) or high (T-J-Q-K-A), but it can’t wrap around (Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight).
- Full house vs. full house: The three-of-a-kind decides it first. 999-22 beats 888-AA.
- Two pair vs. two pair: Highest pair first, then the second pair, then the kicker.
- “Does a flush beat a straight?” Yes — always. A flush is rarer, so it ranks higher.
Why kickers matter
When two players hold the same pair, the kicker — the highest unmatched card — breaks the tie. A-K beats A-Q when an Ace pairs the board, because the King outkicks the Queen. This single idea quietly wins or loses more pots than any flashy bluff, which is why strong starting hands have strong kickers.
Memorize it the smart way
Don’t just stare at the list. Group it: made hands that need the board to cooperate (flush, straight) sit between the “multiples” (quads, full house, trips, pairs). Deal yourself hands at home and name them out loud until it’s automatic. Once rankings are second nature, you can spend your mental energy on the decisions that actually move money — position, odds, and reading your opponent.
Keep learning
Texas Hold’em Rules: Everything That Happens in a Hand
The official rules of Texas Hold’em — blinds, the four betting rounds, betting limits, and the edge cases that cause table arguments.
FundamentalsHow to Play Texas Hold’em: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide
Learn Texas Hold’em from scratch — the deal, the betting rounds, the showdown, and the first habits that keep beginners from spewing chips.
MindsetPoker Bankroll Management: How Not to Go Broke
How many buy-ins you actually need for cash games and tournaments, why variance demands a cushion, and rules to stop one bad run from busting you.