Every poker decision – whether to bet, call, raise, or fold – comes down to hand strength. Before you can make good decisions at the table, you need to know exactly which hands beat which, without having to stop and think about it mid-hand.
This is the complete list of poker hand rankings from strongest to weakest, with a plain-language description and an example of each. The order below never changes, no matter which poker variant, stakes, or site you’re playing on.
Poker Hand Rankings, Strongest to Weakest
| Rank | Hand | What It Is | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Five consecutive cards, same suit | 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank | Q♣ Q♦ Q♠ Q♥ 3♠ |
| 4 | Full House | Three of a kind plus a pair | J♠ J♦ J♣ 9♥ 9♠ |
| 5 | Flush | Five cards of the same suit, any order | A♥ J♥ 8♥ 5♥ 2♥ |
| 6 | Straight | Five consecutive cards, mixed suits | 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣ |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 7♠ 7♦ 7♣ K♠ 4♥ |
| 8 | Two Pair | Two separate pairs plus one extra card | A♦ A♠ 10♣ 10♥ 6♠ |
| 9 | One Pair | Two cards of the same rank | K♠ K♦ 9♥ 5♣ 2♦ |
| 10 | High Card | No pair or better – ranked by the highest card | A♣ Q♦ 9♠ 6♥ 3♣ |
Ace can play high or low in a straight. A-K-Q-J-10 is the highest straight, and A-2-3-4-5 (sometimes called “the wheel”) is the lowest – but a straight can never wrap around, so K-A-2-3-4 isn’t a valid hand.
How Hand Rankings Work in Texas Hold’em
In Texas Hold’em, each player gets two private cards and shares five community cards with everyone else at the table. You always build the best possible five-card hand from those seven cards combined – which might use both of your private cards, just one, or occasionally neither if the board itself is stronger than anything you can make with it.
For the full breakdown of how betting rounds and community cards come together, see our Texas Hold’em rules guide.
Common Mistakes Players Make Reading Hand Strength
- Forgetting that a flush beats a straight, even when the straight looks more “complete”
- Assuming two pair beats three of a kind – it doesn’t
- Overvaluing a low pair against multiple opponents
- Missing an ace-low straight because they’re only looking for high cards
- Not checking the board carefully enough to see a possible straight or flush for an opponent
Hand Rankings Never Change
The ranking order above is identical whether you’re playing micro-stakes online, a live cash game, or a major tournament. It doesn’t change between poker sites, and it doesn’t change between Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or other variants – only how you form your five-card hand changes from game to game. For more strategy and rules content, visit our poker strategy and learning hub.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush ranks higher than a straight – it’s a common mix-up for new players since a straight can look more impressive at a glance.
What beats a full house?
Only four of a kind, a straight flush, or a royal flush beat a full house.
