This poker hands guide will cover all of the different lists of poker hands ranking available, from the simple “high card” to the very best “royal flush.” If you know how the game is scored, you’ll not only understand it better, but you’ll also be able to use that knowledge to make smart decisions at the poker table.
Royal Flush Poker Hands
The royal flush is the best poker hand rankings in poker. It’s so rare and strong that it’s been compared to a king and queen sitting on their thrones. It’s the highest-ranking hand in most poker hands variants, and achieving it can be the difference between victory and defeat. From the ace to the ten, a royal flush is made up of five cards in a row that are all the same suit. This means the hand must include the following:
- Ace (A)
- King (K)
- Queen (Q)
- Jack (J)
- Ten (10)
The suit doesn’t matter, whether it’s spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs, as long as all the cards are in sequence and of the same suit.
Examples of Royal Flush Ranking
Here are some examples of how a royal flush compares to other hands:
Royal Flush (A♥️ K♥️ Q♥️ J♥️ 10♥️) beats Straight Flush (9♠️ 8♠️ 7♠️ 6♠️ 5♠️)
Royal Flush (A♦️ K♦️ Q♦️ J♦️ 10♦️) beats any other possible hand
As you can see, the royal flush is truly the king of poker hands, sitting undefeated at the top of the ranking hierarchy.
Straight Flush
The straight flush is a hand that commands both respect and admiration and second best in this poker hands order. It sits proudly amongst the highest ranks of hand combinations, boasting both power and rarity.
What Defines a Straight Flush?
A straight flush poker hands is made up of five cards in a row that are all the same color. That’s right, each card has to be in a straight line with no space between them. It doesn’t matter what set the cards are as long as they are all the same color (clubs, hearts, diamonds, or spades).
For instance, these are all examples of straight flushes:
- 7♣️ 6♣️ 5♣️ 4♣️ 3♣️
- J♥️ 10♥️ 9♥️ 8♥️ 7♥️
- A♦️ K♦️ Q♦️ J♦️ 10♦️
Notice how the ace can appear at either the high end (A-K-Q-J-10) or the low end (5-4-3-2-A) of the straight flush, depending on the rules of the specific poker hands game being played.
In addition, the rarity of the straight flush adds to its allure. The odds of being dealt one are incredibly low, around 0.00154%, making it a truly special occurrence.
Four of a Kind
The four-of-a-kind stands as a formidable hand, wielding immense power and earning the respect of seasoned players. A four-of-a-kind, also known as a quad, consists of, you guessed it, four cards of the same rank. This means you’ll have four identical cards, like four queens or four aces, accompanied by one additional card, often referred to as the kicker. The kicker plays a crucial role when comparing hands with the same four of a kind.
Here are some examples of four-of-a-kind hands:
- 4♦️ 4♣️ 4♥️ 4♠️ 3♠️
- Q♥️ Q♣️ Q♦️ Q♠️ 10♦️
- A♣️ A♠️ A♥️ A♦️ K♠️
As you can see, the four cards of the same rank dominate the hand, while the kicker acts as the tiebreaker in case two players share the same four of a kind. Beyond its ranking, the four-of-a-kind holds a certain mystique in the poker world. It signifies a moment of fortune, where the cards have aligned to create a hand of immense strength. It’s a hand that can turn the tide of a game and instill fear in the hearts of opponents.
Full House
The full house stands as a hand that is both powerful and unique, offering a formidable combination of strength and rarity.
Deconstructing the Hand
A full house, also affectionately known as a “boat,” is a hand that consists of two distinct parts:
Three of a kind: This refers to three cards of the same rank, like three queens or three aces.
Pair: This is a separate set of two cards of the same rank, differing from the three of a kind. For example, you could have three queens and a pair of twos or three aces and a pair of fives.
Here are some examples of full-house hands:
- Q♣️ Q♦️ Q♠️ 2♥️ 2♦️
- A♠️ A♥️ A♦️ K♣️ K♠️
- 7♦️ 7♣️ 7♥️ 3♠️ 3♥️
Full House compares to other strong hands:
Beats Two Pair: While two pairs are respectable, they can’t withstand the combined power of a three-of-a-kind and a pair.
Beats Three of a Kind: Although Three of a Kind are strong on their own, they lack the additional pair to compete with a full house.
Beats Flush and Straight: Both flush and straight combinations fall short of the full house’s unique power.
Loses to Four of a Kind: The dominance of four identical cards proves too much for even a well-constructed full house.
Loses to Straight Flush: The sequential nature of a straight flush, coupled with the same suit requirement, renders it unbeatable against the full house.
Loses to Royal Flush: The unchallenged power and prestige of the royal flush remain unmatched by any other hand, including the full house.
Flush
The flush stands as a hand brimming with both power and beauty, showcasing a captivating display of color and strength.
The flush is a hand that consists of five cards, all belonging to the same suit. Whether it’s hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades, the uniformity of color is what defines this hand.
Here are some examples of flush hands:
- J♦️ 9♦️ 7♦️ 5♦️ 3♦️
- K♣️ Q♣️ 10♣️ 8♣️ 6♣️
- A♥️ K♥️ Q♥️ J♥️ 10♥️
The flush holds its own in the poker hands ranking hierarchy. It sits proudly above a straight but bows to the might of a full house, a four-of-a-kind, a straight flush, and the ultimate king of poker, the royal flush.
Straight
The straight stands as a hand that embodies both simplicity and strength, relying on its sequential nature to rise above the competition.
A Line of Power
The straight is a hand that consists of five cards in a consecutive order of rank, regardless of suit. This means all cards must follow a specific sequence, like from 7 to 10 or from a Jack to an Ace.
Here are some examples of straight hands:
- 7♣️ 6♦️ 5♠️ 4♥️ 3♥️
- J♠️ 10♥️ 9♦️ 8♣️ 7♦️
- A♣️ K♠️ Q♥️ J♦️ 10♥️
The straight claims its rightful place in the poker hands ranking hierarchy. It sits above one pair and a high card but bows to the might of a flush, a full house, a four-of-a-kind, a straight flush, and the ultimate king of poker, the royal flush.
Three-of-a-Kind
The three-of-a-kind, also known as trips or a set, is a hand that offers a solid foundation of power and potential.
Deconstructing the Hand
Three-of-a-kind is a hand that consists of:
Three cards of the same rank: This could be three queens, three aces, or any other set of three identical cards.
Two other cards: If two hands with the same three cards are compared, these “kicker” cards are very important in deciding who wins. They can be of any rank or suit.
Here are some examples of three-of-a-kind hands:
- Q♣️ Q♦️ Q♠️ 2♥️ 6♦️
- A♠️ A♥️ A♦️ K♣️ 2♠️
- 7♦️ 7♣️ 7♥️ 3♠️ 3♥️
Here’s how it compares to other strong hands:
Beats High Card and One Pair: The presence of three identical cards gives the three-of-a-kind a significant advantage over single cards or pairs.
Loses to Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush: The superior hand combinations and unbeatable nature of these higher-ranked hands leave the three of a kind unable to compete.
Two Pair
The two-pair hand consists of, as the name suggests, two distinct pairs of cards of the same rank. This means you’ll have two sets of two cards that share the same value, like two queens and two eights, accompanied by one additional card, often referred to as the kicker. The kicker plays a crucial role when comparing hands with the same two pairs.
Here are some examples of two-pair hands:
- Q♣️ Q♦️ 8♥️ 8♠️ 3♠️
- A♠️ A♥️ 7♦️ 7♣️ 10♦️
- 4♦️ 4♣️ 9♥️ 9♠️ K♠️
Here’s how it compares to other strong hands:
Beats One Pair and High Card: The presence of two identical pairs offers significant power against single pairs or individual cards.
Loses to Three of a Kind: The superior strength of three cards of the same rank outweighs the two pairs, even with a strong kicker.
One Pair
The one pair stands as the foundational hand, representing the simplest form of a made hand and offering a solid starting point for building toward victory. The one-pair hand consists of two cards of the same rank, such as two queens, two eights, or any other pair of identical cards. The other three cards in the hand, called kickers, can be any rank or suit. Though they don’t form part of the pair, they are important for deciding the winner if two players have the same pair.
Here are some examples of one-pair hands:
- Q♣️ Q♦️ 10♥️ 5♠️ 3♦️
- A♠️ A♥️ J♦️ 7♣️ 2♥️
- 8♦️ 8♣️ 9♠️ 5♣️ 4♥️
The one pair sits at the eighth position in the poker hand ranking hierarchy, just above a high card, the lowest-ranking hand. While not the strongest hand, it offers a solid foundation for building towards better hands or bluffing opponents.
High Card
The high card hand has five cards of any rank and suit, with no pairs, straights, flushes, or other combinations. This means each card’s individual value determines the hand’s strength.
Here are some examples of high card hands:
- K♠️ Q♦️ J♣️ 10♥️ 7♦️
- A♠️ 9♣️ 8♦️ 4♥️ 2♥️
- 8♣️ 7♠️ 5♦️ 3♥️ 2♦️
The high card sits at the bottom of the poker hand ranking hierarchy, holding the lowest possible rank. However, despite its low ranking, it plays a crucial role in the game, providing a starting point for all players and serving as a reference point for comparing hands.
Due to the lack of any specific combinations, the high card hand is vulnerable to any other hand type, from a single pair to the powerful royal flush.
FAQs
How many poker hand rankings are there?
There are ten poker hand rankings.
What is the highest-ranking poker hand?
The best poker hand possible is the royal flush.
What is the lowest-ranking poker hand?
The high card is the lowest-ranking poker hand.
What are the four-of-a-kind and full houses?
Four of a kind consists of four cards of the same rank, while a full house consists of a pair and a three-of-a-kind.
Conclusion
The most important thing you need to know to be good at poker is how to rank your hands, study the poker hands chart, and know the difference between each hand. With a solid understanding and lots of practice, you’ll be able to handle the exciting world of poker and come out on top. Let’s look into the specifics of the poker game and how each hand now ranks at our website!
