Poker hand rankings, from strongest to weakest
In standard high poker, a royal flush is the strongest hand and a high-card hand is the weakest. A straight beats three of a kind; a flush beats a straight; a full house beats a flush. Every showdown hand contains exactly five cards. Start by comparing the hand category, then compare the relevant card ranks only if both players have the same category.
This guide covers the high-hand order used in Texas Hold’em and ordinary Omaha high. It does not define lowball, the low half of Omaha Hi-Lo or Short Deck rules. Those formats need their own ranking and qualification rules. The examples below are constructed teaching hands, not claimed results from a poker session.
Poker hands ranked: strongest to weakest
Card notation: A = ace, K = king, Q = queen, J = jack. The four suits are spades ♠, hearts ♥, diamonds ♦ and clubs ♣. Cards shown together form one five-card hand; suits are not a ranking hierarchy.
| Rank and hand | Five-card example | How to recognize and compare it |
|---|---|---|
| 1Royal flush | Ace, king, queen, jack and ten, all in the same suit. This is the highest possible straight flush, not a separate rule for comparing suits. No high-poker hand can beat it. Two players sharing the same royal flush split the pot they are both eligible to win. | |
| 2Straight flush | Five consecutive ranks in the same suit. Compare the highest card when both players have a straight flush: a nine-high straight flush beats an eight-high one. A suited A–2–3–4–5 counts as five-high, not ace-high. The ordinary straight-flush example here ends at nine. | |
| 3Four of a kind | Four cards of one rank plus one other card. Compare the four matching cards first: four nines beat four eights, regardless of the fifth card. If the four matching cards are shared on a Hold’em board, the remaining fifth card can decide the winner. | |
| 4Full house | Three cards of one rank and two of another. Compare the three-card rank before the pair. Three kings with two twos beat three queens with two aces. A bigger pair does not rescue a full house whose three-card rank is lower. | |
| 5Flush | Five cards of the same suit that do not form a straight. Compare the highest card, then the second highest and so on until a difference appears. An ace-high flush does not automatically tie another ace-high flush: the remaining four ranks can decide it. | |
| 6Straight | Five consecutive ranks, not all in the same suit. Only the top of the sequence matters when comparing two straights. Nine-high beats eight-high. An ace can sit above a king or below a two, but it cannot connect both ends of a sequence. | |
| 7Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank plus two unmatched cards. Compare the three matching cards first, then the higher and lower remaining cards if necessary. A set and trips describe different ways of making this category in Hold’em, not different places in the hand rankings. | |
| 8Two pair | Two cards of one rank, two of another and a fifth card. Compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair, then the fifth card. Kings and twos beat queens and jacks even though the second pair of jacks is higher than twos. | |
| 9One pair | Two cards of one rank and three unmatched cards. A pair of jacks beats a pair of tens. With equal pairs, compare the three remaining cards from highest to lowest; stop at the first difference. A card outside the best five cannot act as an extra kicker. | |
| 10High card | When no category above applies, compare the highest card, then each remaining card in descending order. Ace-high beats king-high, but any pair beats any high-card hand. The example is ace-high with a jack, nine, five and two: it is neither a straight nor a flush. |
Find the best five cards, not the best-looking starting hand
In Texas Hold’em, combine the two private cards and the five community cards available at the river, then select the strongest legal five-card hand. You may use both private cards, just one, or neither. A powerful starting pair does not retain special status once the community cards make a better hand for someone else.
Use a repeatable routine: identify the strongest category you can make, write down the five cards that form it, and do the same for the opponent. Only then compare. Six cards of the same suit still produce a five-card flush; three separate pairs do not form a new category. Keep the best two pairs and the best available fifth card.
Kickers: a complete Hold’em comparison
Suppose the board is K♣ 8♦ 4♠2♥ 9♣. Player A holds A♠K♦ and Player B holds Q♠K♥. Both players have a pair of kings. A’s best five ranks are K–K–A–9–8; B’s are K–K–Q–9–8. The ace outranks the queen, so Player A wins this comparison.
Now consider a board of A♣ A♦ K♠K♥ 2♣. With Q♦ 3♠, one player makes A–A–K–K–Q; with J♦ 4♠, the other makes A–A–K–K–J. The two pairs are shared, but the queen wins as the fifth card. Do not compare the unused three and four: neither belongs to the final five-card hand.
Aces, equal hands and playing the board
A–2–3–4–5 is the lowest straight and is compared as five-high. 10–J–Q–K–A is the highest straight. Q–K–A–2–3 is not a straight: the sequence cannot wrap around the ace. For a flush, an ace is high; the five-high exception concerns straights and straight flushes.
If the board is A♣ K♦ Q♥ J♣ 10♠, every remaining Hold’em player can use that ace-high straight. A player holding 5♥ 2♦ and a player holding 9♣ 8♥ have the same best five cards. Neither private hand supplies a sixth-card tiebreaker. They split the pot they are eligible for; any odd-chip procedure belongs to the game’s separate rules.
Suits do not break a showdown tie in standard Hold’em. A spade ace is not stronger than a heart ace. A house procedure may use suits for assigning seats or another administrative purpose, but that does not change the strength of equal five-card poker hands.
Omaha uses the same high ranking, but different card selection
In ordinary four-card Omaha, make your hand from exactly two of your four private cards and exactly three community cards. You cannot play the board, use one private card or combine three private cards with two community cards. Always apply this selection rule before consulting the ranking table.
With four hearts on the board and only one heart among your Omaha private cards, you cannot make a heart flush: you need two private hearts. Likewise, an apparent straight spread across the board is not automatically yours. Check whether exactly two private cards and three board cards form the sequence. The table describes categories, not permission to ignore the rules of the variant.
A short showdown checklist
First identify the game and whether you are comparing high hands or a low component. Next choose exactly five legal cards. Compare categories before ranks, and compare ranks in the order appropriate to the category. If all five relevant ranks are identical, do not invent another tiebreaker. This sequence resolves most beginner disputes without memorizing dozens of separate examples.
These rules tell you which completed hand is stronger; they do not tell you whether a bet is profitable or guarantee that a good starting hand will win. If a live or online display seems inconsistent, check the actual cards and the published rules of that game rather than assuming that the suit or a sixth card decides the result.
Six hands, five cards
Six constructed exercises to practise reading a showdown. These are fixed teaching deals, not hands from real play. No account, stake or live table is involved.
Choose who wins, then select the five best cards for the named player. Press a card again to deselect it. Check both parts of your answer, or open the full explanation at any time.
When the board is the whole hand
Can either player improve the straight already on the board? Choose the result and build Player A’s hand.
Hold’em: use any five of the seven available cards, including zero, one or two private cards.
Full explanation
Equal best hands: split the pot for which both players are eligible.
Player A
Ace-high straight: A–K–Q–J–10
Player B
Ace-high straight: A–K–Q–J–10
The five board cards already form the highest possible straight. Neither A’s nine and eight nor B’s five and two can replace a board card to make a stronger five-card hand. Both players use zero private cards, which is legal in Hold’em.
Both best hands have the same category and the same straight high card: ace. A’s nine cannot serve as a sixth-card kicker. The result is a split, regardless of the suits; this comparison does not address odd-chip allocation.
Two pair leaves room for one kicker
The two pairs are shared. Which fifth card counts, and which cards must A leave out?
Hold’em: use any five of the seven available cards, including zero, one or two private cards.
Full explanation
Player A wins.
Player A
Two pair: aces and kings, queen kicker
Player B
Two pair: aces and kings, jack kicker
A retains both aces, both kings and the private queen. B retains the same two pairs with the private jack. Compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair: both comparisons are equal, so queen versus jack decides for A.
The board’s two is replaced by a better kicker for both players. A’s three and B’s four are also outside the best five. Comparing four against three would invent a sixth-card tie breaker; it cannot reverse A’s win.
A full house starts with its three
A can make kings full of queens; B can make queens full of kings. Which part decides first? Build A’s five.
Hold’em: use any five of the seven available cards, including zero, one or two private cards.
Full explanation
Player A wins.
Player A
Full house: three kings and two queens
Player B
Full house: three queens and two kings
A uses the private king with the board’s two kings, then both board queens. B uses the private queen with the board’s two queens, then both board kings. Each player uses one private card and four board cards, which Hold’em permits.
Compare the three-of-a-kind part before the pair. Three kings beat three queens, so A wins even though B’s pair of kings is higher than A’s pair of queens. B’s ace and the board’s two cannot improve either full house.
An ace can finish at the bottom
A has A–2–3–4–5; B can use 2–3–4–5–6. Which straight is higher? Select B’s five.
Hold’em: use any five of the seven available cards, including zero, one or two private cards.
Full explanation
Player B wins.
Player A
Five-high straight: A–2–3–4–5
Player B
Six-high straight: 2–3–4–5–6
A uses the private ace and five with the board’s two, three and four. In this sequence the ace acts below the two, making a five-high straight. It is not an ace-high straight merely because an ace appears in the five cards.
B uses both private cards, five and six, with the same three low board ranks. A six-high straight beats a five-high straight. The king and nine are discarded; suits do not break this comparison. B wins.
Four hearts on the board are not enough
A holds the ace of hearts but no second heart. B holds two hearts. Who has a legal flush? Select B’s best five.
Omaha: use exactly two private cards and three board cards. Apply this restriction before comparing hands.
Full explanation
Player B wins.
Player A
Ace high: A–K–Q–9–7; no flush
Player B
King-high flush: K–Q–J–9–7, all hearts
A cannot combine the lone heart in hand with four hearts from the board: that uses one private card and four board cards. The best legal selection is ace of hearts and queen of spades plus king, nine and seven of hearts: ace high, with no pair or straight.
B uses queen and jack of hearts from the private cards, plus king, nine and seven of hearts from the board. That is a legal five-heart flush with exactly two private and three board cards. B wins; A’s ace alone never grants an ace-high flush in Omaha.
A tempting straight uses too much board
A’s king seems to complete 9–10–J–Q–K, but would use four board cards. What is legal? Build B’s winning five.
Omaha: use exactly two private cards and three board cards. Apply this restriction before comparing hands.
Full explanation
Player B wins.
Player A
Pair of kings: K–K–Q–J–10
Player B
Queen-high straight: 8–9–10–J–Q
A cannot use one king with all four of nine, ten, jack and queen from the board. No choice of two private cards and three board cards gives A a straight. A’s best legal hand uses both private kings with the board’s queen, jack and ten: one pair.
B uses the private eight and nine with ten, jack and queen from the board. These are five consecutive ranks using the required two-plus-three selection. The queen-high straight beats A’s pair. B does not use the board’s nine or the private ace.
Frequently asked questions
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes in standard high-hand poker. A five-card flush beats any ordinary straight, even if the straight is ace-high. A straight flush belongs to the higher combined category.
Does three of a kind beat two pair?
Yes. Three twos beat two pairs of aces and kings. Compare the category first; high ranks inside a lower category do not reverse the order.
Which full house wins?
Compare the three matching cards first, then the pair if those ranks are equal. Three sevens and two twos beat three sixes and two aces.
Can an ace be low?
Yes, in the A–2–3–4–5 straight or straight flush. That sequence is five-high. An ace cannot make a wrapping sequence such as K–A–2–3–4.
Can a suit break a tie?
No, not when comparing standard high-poker showdown hands. If both players’ best five ranks are equal in the same category, the relevant pot is split.
Must I use both private cards?
Not in Texas Hold’em: you may use zero, one or two. In ordinary Omaha, you must use exactly two private cards and exactly three community cards.
Rules and source boundaries
The ranking and Hold’em selection rules are checked against PokerStars Learn; the Omaha selection rule is checked against the operator’s published game descriptions. These are factual reference links, not recommendations or registration links. The card examples and explanations on this page were prepared for this guide. Consult the specific game’s rules for lowball, Short Deck, side pots and odd-chip procedures.