Hand Rankings in Poker

Hand Rankings Definition

Hand rankings in poker are the official order of poker hands, from strongest to weakest, used to determine who wins at showdown. No matter what variant of poker you’re playing—Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud—the hand ranking system stays the same (unless it’s a special lowball game).

Hands are made from five cards, and the one with the highest-ranking combination wins. The better the hand, the rarer and harder it is to get.

Here’s the standard hand ranking list from best to worst:

1. Royal Flush – A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ (the best possible hand: 10 to Ace, all same suit)
2. Straight Flush – Five cards in a row, same suit (e.g., 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ 8♦ 9♦)
3. Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank (e.g., 9♣ 9♦ 9♠ 9♥ 2♠)
4. Full House – Three of a kind + a pair (e.g., K♠ K♦ K♥ 3♣ 3♠)
5. Flush – Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence (e.g., A♥ J♥ 8♥ 4♥ 2♥)
6. Straight – Five cards in a row, any suits (e.g., 7♣ 8♦ 9♠ 10♠ J♥)
7. Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank (e.g., 4♠ 4♦ 4♣ 9♠ 2♥)
8. Two Pair – Two pairs (e.g., Q♠ Q♦ 6♥ 6♣ 3♠)
9. One Pair – One pair (e.g., J♥ J♣ 7♦ 4♠ 2♦)
10. High Card – None of the above (e.g., A♠ 10♦ 7♣ 5♥ 3♠)

Examples of Where Hand Rankings Are Used

• At showdown, a player with a flush beats another with two pair, thanks to the hand ranking order.
• In a beginner’s game, someone might ask, “Does a straight beat a flush?” (Answer: No, a flush beats a straight).
• Online sites often highlight the best hand you’ve made on-screen, like “Full House!” so you know your ranking instantly.

Knowing hand rankings is the most basic skill in poker—but it’s also one of the most important. Every decision starts with knowing where your hand stands.