Poker hands chart
The table lists all ten poker hands from the best to the weakest, with an example and the probability of being dealt that exact hand in five cards from a full deck. The rarer the hand, the higher it ranks.
| # | Hand | Example | Chance in 5 cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | 0.00015% |
| 2 | Straight flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ | 0.0014% |
| 3 | Four of a kind | Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ 4♦ | 0.024% |
| 4 | Full house | J♠ J♥ J♦ 8♣ 8♠ | 0.14% |
| 5 | Flush | A♦ J♦ 9♦ 6♦ 2♦ | 0.20% |
| 6 | Straight | 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣ | 0.39% |
| 7 | Three of a kind | 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ K♣ 3♠ | 2.1% |
| 8 | Two pair | K♥ K♣ 5♦ 5♠ 9♥ | 4.8% |
| 9 | One pair | A♣ A♦ 10♠ 6♥ 3♣ | 42.3% |
| 10 | High card | K♠ J♦ 8♣ 5♥ 2♠ | 50.1% |
Best poker hands explained
Royal flush and straight flush
A straight flush is five cards in sequence of the same suit. The highest possible one — ace-high — is called a royal flush. Between two straight flushes, the one with the higher top card wins.
Four of a kind and full house
Four of a kind (quads) is four cards of the same rank. A full house combines three of a kind with a pair; between two full houses the higher three of a kind decides, so J-J-J-8-8 beats 10-10-10-A-A.
Flush and straight
A flush is any five cards of one suit, not in sequence; a straight is five cards in sequence of mixed suits. A flush beats a straight because it is harder to make.
Three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card
These are the most common winning poker hands at real tables. With a pair or two pair, the kicker — the highest unpaired card — often decides the pot.
Odds of improving your hand in Hold'em
Poker hand rankings are only half of the picture: you also need to know how often a hand improves. “Outs” are the cards that complete your hand. A simple rule of thumb — the rule of 4 and 2 — gives the chance: multiply your outs by 4 on the flop (two cards to come) or by 2 on the turn (one card to come).
| Draw | Outs | Flop to river | Turn to river |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush draw | 9 | ≈ 35% | ≈ 19.6% |
| Open-ended straight draw | 8 | ≈ 31.5% | ≈ 17.4% |
| Gutshot straight draw | 4 | ≈ 16.5% | ≈ 8.7% |
| Pair to three of a kind | 2 | ≈ 8.4% | ≈ 4.3% |
| Two pair to full house | 4 | ≈ 16.5% | ≈ 8.7% |
Compare this chance with the price you are offered: if a call costs a quarter of the final pot, you need to win at least 25% of the time to break even.
Poker sequence: how straights work
The poker sequence of ranks goes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A. The ace is special: it can be the top of a straight (10-J-Q-K-A) or the bottom (A-2-3-4-5, called the wheel). A straight cannot wrap around the corner, so Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight. Suits have no rank in standard poker — a flush in spades is not better than a flush in hearts.
Poker hands in other variants
The order of hands is almost universal, but a few games change it. In Short Deck (six-plus) Hold'em, cards 2 to 5 are removed, so a flush becomes harder and beats a full house. In lowball games such as 2-7 Triple Draw or the low half of Omaha Hi-Lo, the weakest hand wins. In Three Card Poker a straight beats a flush because with three cards it is rarer. In video poker the pay table follows the standard order, with the royal flush paying the most.
Tie-break rules
| Situation | Who wins |
|---|---|
| Two flushes | Compare the highest card, then the next, and so on |
| Two straights | The higher top card; equal straights split the pot |
| Two pair vs two pair | Higher top pair, then lower pair, then kicker |
| One pair vs one pair | Higher pair, then kickers in order |
| Identical hands | The pot is split equally |
Texas Hold'em poker hands: using the board
In Hold'em you make the best five-card hand from seven cards: your two hole cards and five community cards. You may use both hole cards, one, or none — if the board itself is the best hand, you “play the board” and split with anyone else who does the same. Example: you hold A♥ 9♥, the board is K♥ 7♥ 2♣ 5♥ J♠. Your best hand is an ace-high flush: A♥ K♥ 9♥ 7♥ 5♥.
Winning poker hands: starting cards in Hold'em
Hand rankings tell you who wins at the showdown, but you also need to know which starting cards are worth playing.
| Group | Starting hands | How to play |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | A-A, K-K, Q-Q, A-K | Raise from any position |
| Strong | J-J, 10-10, A-Q, A-J suited, K-Q suited | Raise or call a raise |
| Speculative | Small pairs, suited connectors like 8-7 suited | Play cheaply, in late position |
| Weak | Unsuited low cards like 9-3, J-4 | Usually fold |
Learn the order of hands first, then the rules of play on our poker rules page.
FAQ
What is the best hand in poker?
A royal flush: A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit. It cannot be beaten, only tied.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush ranks above a straight, and a full house beats both.
Can an ace be low in a straight?
Yes. A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest straight; the ace can also top a 10-J-Q-K-A straight.
Which suit is highest in poker?
None. In standard poker all suits are equal; ties are decided by card ranks only.
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