Poker Hand Rankings
All 169 Texas Hold'em starting hands ranked by strength. Click any hand to see details.
How to Read the Hand Rankings Chart
The chart shows all possible starting hand combinations. The diagonal shows pocket pairs, above are suited hands, below are off-suit hands.
Position Matters
Hand strength is highly position-dependent. Adjust based on your table position, stack depth, and opponents.
Complete Poker Hand Rankings (Highest to Lowest)
1. Royal Flush
A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit. The rarest and strongest hand in poker. Only four possible Royal Flushes exist in a standard 52-card deck (one per suit). The probability of being dealt one in five cards is 1 in 649,740.
2. Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts). Excluding Royal Flushes, there are 36 possible straight flushes. When two players both have a straight flush, the one with the higher top card wins.
3. Four of a Kind (Quads)
Four cards of the same rank plus any fifth card (e.g., K-K-K-K-3). There are 624 possible four-of-a-kind combinations. If two players both have quads, the higher-ranked quads win. Probability: approximately 1 in 4,165.
4. Full House (Boat)
Three of a kind plus a pair (e.g., Q-Q-Q-7-7). There are 3,744 possible full houses. When comparing, the three-of-a-kind portion is compared first — 8-8-8-3-3 beats 7-7-7-A-A. Probability: approximately 1 in 694.
5. Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence (e.g., A-J-8-4-2 of spades). There are 5,108 possible flushes (excluding straight and royal flushes). The highest card determines the winner when two players both have flushes. Probability: approximately 1 in 509.
6. Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits (e.g., 4-5-6-7-8). There are 10,200 possible straights (excluding straight flushes). The Ace can serve as high (A-K-Q-J-10) or low (A-2-3-4-5, called a “wheel”). Probability: approximately 1 in 255.
7. Three of a Kind (Trips/Set)
Three cards of the same rank (e.g., 9-9-9-K-4). A “set” is made with a pocket pair plus one board card; “trips” is made with one hole card plus two board cards. Sets are generally more disguised and therefore more valuable. Probability: approximately 1 in 47.
8. Two Pair
Two different pairs plus a fifth card (e.g., J-J-4-4-A). The higher pair is compared first, then the lower pair, then the kicker. Two pair is a common hand that often wins at showdown but can be vulnerable to flushes and straights. Probability: approximately 1 in 21.
9. One Pair
Two cards of the same rank plus three unrelated cards (e.g., 10-10-A-8-3). Top pair with a good kicker is a solid holding in most situations, while bottom pair is usually weak. Probability: approximately 1 in 2.4.
10. High Card
When no player makes any of the above hands, the highest card wins. High card hands are the most common outcome — about 50% of five-card hands are high-card only. Ace-high is the best possible high card.
Hand Ranking Probability Table
| Hand | Combinations | Probability | Odds Against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 4 | 0.000154% | 649,739 : 1 |
| Straight Flush | 36 | 0.00139% | 72,192 : 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 624 | 0.0240% | 4,164 : 1 |
| Full House | 3,744 | 0.1441% | 693 : 1 |
| Flush | 5,108 | 0.1965% | 508 : 1 |
| Straight | 10,200 | 0.3925% | 254 : 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 54,912 | 2.1128% | 46.3 : 1 |
| Two Pair | 123,552 | 4.7539% | 20.0 : 1 |
| One Pair | 1,098,240 | 42.256% | 1.37 : 1 |
| High Card | 1,302,540 | 50.118% | 0.995 : 1 |
Common Misconceptions
Misconception: A straight beats a flush. This is wrong — a flush outranks a straight. Remember: the harder a hand is to make, the higher it ranks. There are more possible straights than flushes, so flushes are rarer and therefore stronger.
Misconception: Suits have a ranking.In standard Texas Hold'em, all suits are equal. There is no suit hierarchy — a flush of hearts is exactly as strong as a flush of spades with the same card ranks.
Misconception: A-2-3-4-5 is not a real straight.It is. This hand, called a “wheel,” is the lowest possible straight. The Ace functions as a low card in this specific case. However, Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight — the sequence does not wrap around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hand in poker?
A Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit) is the best possible hand in poker. It occurs approximately once every 649,740 hands dealt — extremely rare but unbeatable when it appears.
Does a flush beat a straight?
Yes. A flush (five cards of the same suit) beats a straight (five consecutive cards of mixed suits). This is one of the most commonly confused rankings among new players.
What beats what in poker?
From highest to lowest: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card. Each hand beats all hands listed below it.
Does a full house beat a flush?
Yes. A full house (three of a kind plus a pair) beats a flush. Full houses are rarer than flushes — there are fewer ways to make them — which is why they rank higher.
What are the odds of getting a Royal Flush?
The probability of being dealt a Royal Flush in five cards is 1 in 649,740. In Texas Hold'em where you have seven cards to work with, the odds improve to approximately 1 in 30,940.
How do you break a tie between two flushes?
The flush with the highest card wins. If both flushes share the same high card, compare the second-highest, then third, and so on. If all five cards are identical in rank (but different suits), the pot is split.