Poker Hand Rankings: Texas Hold’em Hands from Best to Worst
Every poker game is decided by the same poker hand rankings. This guide lists all ten Texas Hold’em hands from best to worst, with an example of each, how often it appears and how ties are broken.
Poker hand rankings from best to worst
| # | Hand | Example | Chance (5 cards) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | 0.0002% |
| 2 | Straight flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ | 0.0014% |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ 7♦ | 0.0240% |
| 4 | Full house | J♠ J♥ J♦ 4♣ 4♠ | 0.1441% |
| 5 | Flush | K♦ 10♦ 8♦ 5♦ 2♦ | 0.1965% |
| 6 | Straight | 8♣ 7♦ 6♠ 5♥ 4♣ | 0.3925% |
| 7 | Three of a kind | 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ K♣ 3♠ | 2.1% |
| 8 | Two pair | A♠ A♦ 9♣ 9♥ 5♠ | 4.8% |
| 9 | One pair | 10♥ 10♣ K♠ 6♦ 2♥ | 42.3% |
| 10 | High card | A♦ J♣ 8♠ 6♥ 3♣ | 50.1% |
The rarer a hand, the higher it ranks. Probabilities above are for five cards. In Texas Hold’em you choose the best five of seven cards, so strong hands come more often; see the poker odds chart for seven-card odds.
Each hand explained
- Royal flush: ace, king, queen, jack and ten of one suit. It cannot be beaten.
- Straight flush: five cards in a row of one suit. A higher top card wins.
- Four of a kind (quads): four cards of the same rank.
- Full house: three of a kind plus a pair. The three of a kind decides between two full houses.
- Flush: any five cards of one suit. Compare the highest card, then the next.
- Straight: five cards in a row of mixed suits. The ace plays high (10-J-Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3-4-5).
- Three of a kind: three cards of one rank. With a pocket pair it is called a set; with one card and a pair on the board, trips.
- Two pair: two different pairs. The higher pair wins, then the lower pair, then the kicker.
- One pair: two cards of the same rank.
- High card: none of the above. The highest card plays.
How ties are broken
- Kickers: if two players have the same pair, the highest unpaired card (the kicker) wins. A♠ A♦ K♣ beats A♥ A♣ Q♦.
- Only five cards count: a sixth or seventh card never breaks a tie.
- Suits never rank: a flush in spades is not better than a flush in hearts. Equal hands split the pot.
- Playing the board: if the five community cards are your best hand, you share the pot with anyone else who plays the board.
Common mistakes
- Four cards to a flush is not a flush. You need five.
- A straight cannot wrap around. Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
- Two pair on the board plus your pair gives you the best two pairs, not three pair.
Check any hand in seconds
Not sure which hand wins? Enter the cards in the poker odds calculator and see the winner and the equity. Then learn the Texas Hold’em rules and play free Texas Hold’em online to practise.
FAQ
What is the best hand in poker? The royal flush: A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit.
Does a flush beat a straight? Yes. A flush ranks above a straight because it is rarer.
Does a full house beat a flush? Yes. A full house ranks above a flush.
Which suit is the highest in poker? None. In Texas Hold’em all suits are equal, so equal hands split the pot.
What beats four of a kind? Only a straight flush or a royal flush.