To win at Texas Hold’em, you must understand poker hands ranked from highest to lowest. Knowing exactly what beats what helps you make better betting choices and stay ahead of your opponents.
In poker, the best hand wins the pot. A Royal Flush is the strongest hand possible. On the other end, a High Card is the weakest. Use this guide to master the hierarchy and play with confidence.
The Full Poker Hand Rankings
This list shows every hand from strongest to weakest. We start with the rarest hands and move down to the basics.
1. Royal Flush
A Royal Flush is the ultimate winning hand. It consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all in the same suit. No other hand can beat this combination.
Hand Example:
A♠️ K♠️ Q♠️ J♠️ 10♠️
2. Straight Flush
A Straight Flush is five cards in numerical order that share the same suit. It is very rare to see this during a game. For example, you might hold five hearts in a row.
Hand Example:
9♥️ 8♥️ 7♥️ 6♥️ 5♥️
3. Four of a Kind
This hand contains four cards of the same rank. If two players have four of a kind, the one with the higher rank wins. For instance, four Aces beat four Jacks.
Hand Example:
J♣️ J♣️ J♣️ J♣️
4. Full House
A Full House is a powerful combination of three cards and a pair. It uses three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. This is often called “Kings over fives” if you have three Kings and two 5s.
Hand Example:
K♦️ K♦️ K♦️ 5♠️ 5♠️
5. Flush
A Flush consists of any five cards that share the same suit. The numerical order does not matter here. A Flush is stronger than a Straight because it is much harder to get.
Hand Example:
A♥️ Q♥️ 9♥️ 6♥️ 2♥️
6. Straight
A Straight is five cards in sequential order. These cards do not need to be the same suit. An Ace can act as the low card in a “wheel” straight (A-2-3-4-5).
Hand Example:
9♣️ 8♠️ 7♥️ 6♦️ 5♣️
7. Three of a Kind
Also known as “set” or “trips,” this hand has three cards of the same rank. It is much stronger than a simple pair but weaker than a Full House.
Hand Example:
7♣️ 7♣️ 7♣️
8. Two Pair
Two Pair uses two different sets of matching ranks. For example, you might hold two 10s and two 4s. The strength of your hand depends on which pair has the higher number.
Hand Example:
10♥️ 10♥️ 4♠️ 4♠️
9. One Pair
A single pair consists of two cards of the same rank. This is the most common winning hand in casual play. It is easy to get but can be easily beaten by a Two Pair or better.
Hand Example:
A♦️ A♦️
10. High Card
The High Card is the lowest ranking hand. If no player has a pair or better, the person with the highest card wins. An Ace-high hand beats a King-high hand.
Hand Example:
A♠️ 5♣️
Quick Reference Comparison Table
Use this table to quickly check what beats what during a fast game.
| Hand Rank | Name | Description | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 (Same Suit) | Unbeatable |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Sequential cards (Same Suit) | Extremely High |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Four cards of one rank | Very High |
| 4 | Full House | Three of a kind + a pair | High |
| 5 | Flush | Five cards of the same suit | Moderate |
| 6 | Straight | Five sequential cards | Moderate |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Three cards of one rank | Low/Moderate |
| 8 | Two Pair | Two different matching pairs | Low |
| 9 | One Pair | Two cards of the same rank | Very Low |
| 10 | High Card | The highest single card | Lowest |
Pro Tips for Reading the Board
Knowing the rankings is only the first step. You must also watch the community cards on the table to see what your opponents might hold.
- Watch for Straights: If the board shows 6, 7, and 8, be careful. An opponent could easily hold a 9 and a 5 to complete a Straight.
- Check for Flushes: If three cards of the same suit are on the table, a Flush is possible. This makes hands like Two Pair much riskier to play.
- Identify Full Houses: Always look at pairs on the board. A pair on the table makes it very easy for an opponent to have a Full House if they hold one matching card in their hand.
Mastering these rankings allows you to calculate your risks accurately. When you know the hierarchy, you can decide when to bet big and when to fold.