Poker is one of the most popular and exciting card games in the world. Whether you play it online or at a live casino, you need to know the ranking of poker hands to make the best decisions and win more pots. In this article, we will explain the different types of poker hands, from the highest to the lowest, and give you some tips on how to play them effectively. We will also show you the probability of getting each hand and how they compare to each other. As our tests have shown, knowing the poker hand rankings can make a huge difference in your poker performance and results.
What are poker hands?
A poker hand is a combination of five cards that determines the winner of a round. Depending on the variant of poker you are playing, you may use different sets of cards to form your hand. For example, in Texas Hold’em, you use two hole cards and five community cards, while in Five Card Draw, you use five cards from your own hand.
The rank of a poker hand is based on the patterns formed by its cards. There are nine categories of hand when using a standard 52-card deck, except under ace-to-five low rules where straights, flushes and straight flushes are not recognized. An additional category, five of a kind, exists when using one or more wild cards.
The fewer hands a category contains, the higher its rank. For example, a royal flush is the rarest and strongest hand in poker, while a high card is the most common and weakest hand. Within each category, hands are ranked by the value of their cards, from highest to lowest. For example, a pair of aces beats a pair of kings, and a straight flush with an ace high beats a straight flush with a king high.
Poker hands ranking chart
Here is a poker hands ranking chart that shows the order of poker hands from best to worst. You can use this chart as a reference when playing online poker or at a live casino. You can also download and print out our poker hands ranking chart, or save it to your phone. Keep this poker cheat sheet nearby when playing so that you always know the ranking of hands from best to worst.
| Rank | Hand name | Example | Probability | Combinations | Description |
| 1 | Royal Flush | A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥ | 0.000154% | 4 | A royal flush is made out of 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, all of the same suit. It is the best possible hand in poker. |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ | 0.00139% | 36 | A straight flush is five cards in a row, all of the same suit. It ranks below a royal flush and above four of a kind. |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | K♣ K♦ K♥ K♠ 5♠ | 0.0240% | 624 | Four of a kind is four cards of the same rank and one card of another rank. It ranks below a straight flush and above a full house. |
| 4 | Full House | J♣ J♦ J♥ 9♣ 9♦ | 0.1441% | 3,744 | A full house is three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. It ranks below four of a kind and above a flush. |
| 5 | Flush | A♦ Q♦ 7♦ 5♦ 3♦ | 0.1965% | 5,108 | A flush is five cards of the same suit, not in numerical order. It ranks below a full house and above a straight. |
| 6 | Straight | A♣ K♦ Q♥ J♠ 10♣ | 0.3925% | 10,200 | A straight is five cards in numerical order, but not of the same suit. It ranks below a flush and above three of a kind. |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Q♣ Q♥ Q♠ A♦ 8♥ | 2.1128% | 54,912 | Three of a kind is three cards of the same rank and two cards of different ranks. It ranks below a straight and above two pair. |
| 8 | Two Pair | J♥ J♠ 10♥ 10♣ 9♦ | 4.7539% | 123,552 | Two pair is two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and one card of a third rank. It ranks below three of a kind and above one pair. |
| 9 | One Pair | A♥ A♣ K♥ Q♦ J♠ | 42.2569% | 1,098,240 | One pair is two cards of the same rank and three cards of different ranks. It ranks below two pair and above high card. |
| 10 | High Card | A♠ K♦ Q♣ J♥ 9♠ | 50.1177% | 1,302,540 | A high card is a hand with no matching cards. It ranks below one pair and is the weakest hand in poker. |
High card
A high card is the lowest possible poker hand you can make in most poker variants. It means that you have no pair, no straight, no flush, or any other combination that can beat a single card. The value of your high card hand is determined by the rank of your highest card, followed by the second-highest, and so on. For example, A-K-J-9-7 is a high card hand with an ace as the highest card. If two or more players have a high card hand, the one with the highest card wins. If they have the same highest card, the next highest card is compared, and so on.
The probability of getting a high card hand in a standard 52-card deck is 50.12%, which means that you will get this hand more than half of the time. However, this does not mean that you should play every high card hand you get. Based on our experience, most high card hands are not worth playing, especially from early or middle position, as they are easily dominated by stronger hands. You should only play high card hands when you have a good chance of stealing the blinds or when you are in late position and no one has raised before you.
One pair
One pair is a poker hand that contains two cards of the same rank and three other cards of different ranks. For example, Q-Q-8-5-3 is a one pair hand with a pair of queens. The value of your one pair hand is determined by the rank of your pair, followed by the rank of your highest kicker (the highest card that is not part of your pair), and so on. For example, A-A-K-9-4 beats A-A-Q-J-10 because the first hand has a higher kicker (a king). If two or more players have one pair, the one with the highest pair wins. If they have the same pair, the one with the highest kicker wins.
The probability of getting a one pair hand in a standard 52-card deck is 49.9%, which means that you will get this hand almost as often as a high card hand. However, not all one pair hands are equal. Some pairs are much stronger than others and can win big pots against multiple opponents. For example, A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J, and 10-10 are known as premium pairs and should be played aggressively from any position. Other pairs are weaker and should be played more cautiously depending on your position and the action before you.
Two pair
Two pair is a poker hand that contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one other card of a different rank. For example, K-K-9-9-4 is a two pair hand with a pair of kings and a pair of nines. The value of your two pair hand is determined by the rank of your higher pair, followed by the rank of your lower pair, followed by the rank of your kicker. For example, A-A-K-K-7 beats A-A-Q-Q-J because the first hand has a higher lower pair (a pair of kings). If two or more players have two pair, the one with the highest higher pair wins. If they have the same higher pair, the one with the highest lower pair wins. If they have the same two pairs, the one with the highest kicker wins.
The probability of getting a two pair hand in a standard 52-card deck is 4.75%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 21 hands. Two pair is a strong poker hand that can often win at showdown without improvement. However, you should be careful when playing two pair hands as they are vulnerable to being beaten by better hands such as three of a kind, straights, flushes, full houses, or four of a kind. You should bet or raise your two pair hands for value and protection, but be ready to fold them if you face heavy resistance from your opponents.
Three of a kind
Three of a kind is a poker hand that contains three cards of the same rank and two other cards of different ranks. For example, J-J-J-8-6 is a three of a kind hand with three jacks. The value of your three of a kind hand is determined by the rank of your three cards, followed by the rank of your highest kicker, followed by the rank of your lowest kicker. For example, A-A-A-K-Q beats A-A-A-J-10 because the first hand has a higher kicker (a king). If two or more players have three of a kind, the one with the highest three cards wins. If they have the same three cards, the one with the highest kicker wins. If they have the same three cards and the same kicker, the one with the next highest kicker wins.
The probability of getting a three of a kind hand in a standard 52-card deck is 2.11%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 47 hands. Three of a kind is a very strong poker hand that can often win big pots, especially if you have a hidden or disguised set (three of a kind made with a pocket pair). You should play your three of a kind hands aggressively and try to get as much value as possible from your opponents. However, you should also be aware of the possibility of being outdrawn by better hands such as straights, flushes, full houses, or four of a kind. You should be careful when there are four cards to a straight or a flush on the board and avoid overcommitting your chips with your three of a kind hands.
Straight
A straight is a poker hand that contains five cards of sequential rank, but not of the same suit. For example, 6-7-8-9-10 is a straight. The value of your straight hand is determined by the rank of your highest card. For example, A-K-Q-J-10 is the highest possible straight, also known as a Broadway straight. If two or more players have a straight, the one with the highest card wins. If they have the same highest card, the pot is split.
The probability of getting a straight hand in a standard 52-card deck is 0.39%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 255 hands. A straight is a powerful poker hand that can often beat other strong hands such as two pair or three of a kind. However, you should be careful when playing straights as they are vulnerable to being beaten by higher straights, flushes, full houses, or four of a kind. You should bet or raise your straights for value and protection, but be ready to fold them if you face heavy resistance from your opponents or if there are four cards to a flush on the board.
Flush
A flush is a poker hand that contains five cards of the same suit, but not of sequential rank. For example, A-9-7-4-2 of hearts is a flush. The value of your flush hand is determined by the rank of your highest card, followed by the second-highest, and so on. For example, A-K-Q-J-9 of spades beats A-K-Q-J-8 of spades because the first hand has a higher fifth card (a nine). If two or more players have a flush, the one with the highest card wins. If they have the same highest card, the next highest card is compared, and so on.
The probability of getting a flush hand in a standard 52-card deck is 0.20%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 508 hands. A flush is an extremely strong poker hand that can often win huge pots against other strong hands such as straights, two pair, or three of a kind. However, you should be careful when playing flushes as they are vulnerable to being beaten by higher flushes, full houses, or four of a kind. You should bet or raise your flushes for value and protection, but be ready to fold them if you face heavy resistance from your opponents or if there are four cards to a straight on the board.
Full house
A full house is a poker hand that contains three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, 9-9-9-A-A is a full house with three nines and two aces. The value of your full house hand is determined by the rank of your three cards, followed by the rank of your two cards. For example, A-A-A-K-K beats A-A-A-Q-Q because the first hand has a higher pair (a pair of kings). If two or more players have a full house, the one with the highest three cards wins. If they have the same three cards, the one with the highest pair wins.
The probability of getting a full house hand in a standard 52-card deck is 0.14%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 694 hands. A full house is an amazing poker hand that can often win massive pots against other strong hands such as flushes, straights, or three of a kind. However, you should be careful when playing full houses as they are vulnerable to being beaten by higher full houses or four of a kind. You should bet or raise your full houses for value and protection, but be ready to fold them if you face heavy resistance from your opponents or if there are four cards to a straight flush on the board.
Four of a kind
Four of a kind is a poker hand that contains four cards of the same rank and one other card of a different rank. For example, Q-Q-Q-Q-5 is a four of a kind hand with four queens. The value of your four of a kind hand is determined by the rank of your four cards, followed by the rank of your kicker. For example, A-A-A-A-K beats A-A-A-A-Q because the first hand has a higher kicker (a king). If two or more players have four of a kind, the one with the highest four cards wins. If they have the same four cards, the one with the highest kicker wins.
The probability of getting a four of a kind hand in a standard 52-card deck is 0.02%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 4,165 hands. Four of a kind is an incredible poker hand that can often win enormous pots against other strong hands such as full houses, flushes, or straights. However, you should be careful when playing four of a kind as they are vulnerable to being beaten by higher four of a kind or straight flushes. You should bet or raise your four of a kind for value and protection, but be ready to fold them if you face heavy resistance from your opponents or if there are four cards to a royal flush on the board.
Straight flush
A straight flush is a poker hand that contains five cards of sequential rank and of the same suit. For example, 6-7-8-9-10 of clubs is a straight flush. The value of your straight flush hand is determined by the rank of your highest card. For example, K-Q-J-10-9 of hearts is the highest possible straight flush, also known as a king-high straight flush. If two or more players have a straight flush, the one with the highest card wins. If they have the same highest card, the pot is split.
The probability of getting a straight flush hand in a standard 52-card deck is 0.0015%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 64,974 hands. A straight flush is an unbelievable poker hand that can often win gigantic pots against other strong hands such as four of a kind, full houses, or flushes. However, you should be careful when playing straight flushes as they are vulnerable to being beaten by higher straight flushes or royal flushes. You should bet or raise your straight flushes for value and protection, but be ready to fold them if you face heavy resistance from your opponents or if there are four cards to a royal flush on the board.
Royal flush
A royal flush is the best possible poker hand you can make in most poker variants. It is a special type of straight flush that contains the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the same suit. For example, A-K-Q-J-10 of spades is a royal flush. The value of your royal flush hand is determined by its suit. For example, A-K-Q-J-10 of spades is the highest possible royal flush, followed by A-K-Q-J-10 of hearts, diamonds, and clubs. If two or more players have a royal flush, the pot is split.
The probability of getting a royal flush hand in a standard 52-card deck is 0.00015%, which means that you will get this hand about once in every 649,740 hands. A royal flush is the ultimate poker hand that can always win the pot against any other hand. However, you should be careful when playing royal flushes as they are very rare and may not get paid off by your opponents. You should bet or raise your royal flushes for value and protection, but be ready to fold them if you face heavy resistance from your opponents or if there are four cards to a higher royal flush on the board.
Posted by: Valerii B.
Valerii B. is a passionate gambling aficionado and online gaming expert based in the beautiful country of New Zealand. With a deep-rooted fascination for casino games and sports betting, Valerii has accumulated invaluable years of experience in the ever-evolving iGaming industry. As a renowned contributor to Gamblorium, Valerii draws from his extensive knowledge to provide insightful reviews, in-depth analysis, and compelling articles on the latest trends and events in the world of online gambling.