Poker hand rankings: what beats what
In Texas Hold’em, the strongest five-card hand wins at showdown. Use any combination of your two private cards and the five community cards. The list below runs from strongest to weakest; a royal flush is the highest possible straight flush.
| Hand | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Royal flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ | Ace-high straight flush. |
| 2. Straight flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ | Five consecutive cards, all one suit. |
| 3. Four of a kind | Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ 8♠ | Four cards of one rank. |
| 4. Full house | J♠ J♥ J♦ 4♣ 4♠ | Three of one rank and two of another. |
| 5. Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ 3♦ | Five cards of one suit, not consecutive. |
| 6. Straight | 8♠ 7♥ 6♦ 5♣ 4♠ | Five consecutive ranks in mixed suits. |
| 7. Three of a kind | 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ K♣ 2♠ | Three cards of one rank. |
| 8. Two pair | K♠ K♦ 5♥ 5♣ 9♠ | Two different pairs. |
| 9. One pair | 10♠ 10♥ A♦ 8♣ 4♠ | Two cards of one rank. |
| 10. High card | A♠ J♥ 9♦ 6♣ 3♠ | No pair, straight or flush. |
How ties are decided
First compare the hand category. Any flush beats any straight, even an ace-high straight. Within the same category, compare the ranks that make the hand. A pair of kings beats a pair of queens.
If both players have the same pair, compare their highest remaining card, called a kicker. Continue through the remaining kickers until a difference appears. Only five cards count: a sixth or seventh card never breaks a tie.
With two pair, compare the higher pair, then the lower pair, then the kicker. With a full house, compare the three-of-a-kind rank first, then the pair. With a flush, compare the highest card, then the next highest as needed. With a straight, compare the top card.
Can an ace be low?
Yes. A-2-3-4-5 is a five-high straight, often called a wheel. An ace can also be high in 10-J-Q-K-A. It cannot wrap around: Q-K-A-2-3 is not a straight.
Do suits have different values?
No. Spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs have equal value in Texas Hold’em. Two players with the same five-card hand split the pot, even if their suits differ.
Example: when neither private card helps
The board is K♣ K♦ Q♥ Q♠ A♣. One player holds J♦ 2♠ and another holds 10♦ 9♣. Both play the board: two pair, kings and queens, with an ace kicker. Neither player can improve that five-card hand, so the pot is split.
Read the whole board
Four suited cards are not a flush, and four consecutive ranks are not a straight. At each street, count your made hand separately from the cards you hope to receive. See our Texas Hold’em rules for the betting sequence and beginner’s guide for common mistakes.