If you’ve just started learning how to play poker, one of the first and most important things to understand is poker hand rankings. Knowing the order of poker hands helps you make smarter decisions — when to bet, fold, or go all-in.
Whether you’re playing online, at a casino, or with friends at home, understanding poker hands is your foundation for success. In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll explain every hand from strongest to weakest, along with simple examples and useful tips.
What Are Poker Hands?
In poker, a “hand” refers to the five cards you use to form a combination. Your goal is to make the best possible hand using your cards and the community cards on the table.
There are 10 standard poker hands, ranked from the most powerful to the least. The player with the highest-ranking hand at the end of the round wins the pot.
Let’s go through them one by one.
1. Royal Flush
The strongest hand in poker.
A Royal Flush contains A, K, Q, J, and 10, all in the same suit (e.g., all hearts).
Example: ♥A ♥K ♥Q ♥J ♥10
Chances of getting it are very rare, but if you do — you’ve already won!
2. Straight Flush
Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit.
Example: ♣9 ♣8 ♣7 ♣6 ♣5
It’s the second-best hand and beats everything except a Royal Flush.
3. Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank plus one unmatched card.
Example: ♦9 ♠9 ♥9 ♣9 ♠K
This hand is very strong — it can win most games unless someone has a higher Four of a Kind or Straight Flush.
4. Full House
Three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
Example: ♠10 ♥10 ♣10 ♦7 ♠7
A Full House beats any flush or straight. If two players have a Full House, the one with the higher three-of-a-kind wins.
5. Flush
Five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence.
Example: ♥K ♥10 ♥6 ♥4 ♥2
If multiple players have a flush, the one with the highest card wins.
6. Straight
Five cards in sequence, but of different suits.
Example: ♠8 ♥7 ♣6 ♦5 ♠4
If two players have straights, the one with the higher top card wins (e.g., 10-high straight beats 8-high straight).
7. Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards.
Example: ♣Q ♥Q ♠Q ♦9 ♥4
A strong hand that often surprises opponents if played wisely.
8. Two Pair
Two cards of one rank, two of another, plus one extra card.
Example: ♥J ♠J ♦6 ♣6 ♠8
If both players have Two Pairs, the one with the higher top pair wins.
9. One Pair
Two cards of the same rank.
Example: ♦9 ♠9 ♣5 ♥3 ♠K
This is one of the most common hands in poker — not too strong, but it can win with smart betting.
10. High Card
When no other combination is made, your highest card determines your hand.
Example: ♣A ♦10 ♥8 ♠5 ♠3 → “Ace High.”
High Card is the weakest hand, but sometimes it’s enough if everyone else folds.
Poker Hands Chart
When no other combination is made, your highest card determines your hand.
Example: ♣A ♦10 ♥8 ♠5 ♠3 → “Ace High.”
High Card is the weakest hand, but sometimes it’s enough if everyone else folds.
Poker Hands Chart
Rank | Hand Name | Example |
---|---|---|
1 | Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
2 | Straight Flush | 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ |
3 | Four of a Kind | K♣ K♦ K♠ K♥ 3♦ |
4 | Full House | Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 8♣ 8♥ |
5 | Flush | A♦ J♦ 9♦ 5♦ 3♦ |
6 | Straight | 10♣ 9♦ 8♠ 7♥ 6♣ |
7 | Three of a Kind | 8♠ 8♦ 8♥ 5♣ 2♠ |
8 | Two Pair | 7♠ 7♦ 4♣ 4♥ K♠ |
9 | One Pair | 5♦ 5♣ 9♠ 8♦ 2♥ |
10 | High Card | A♥ 10♣ 8♦ 6♠ 3♣ |
Keep this poker hands chart handy when learning — it’s the quickest way to memorize hand order and avoid confusion during play.
Poker Hands Calculator & Probability
Many beginners use a poker hands calculator to understand the chances of getting certain combinations. For example:
Royal Flush: ~1 in 650,000 hands
Straight Flush: ~1 in 72,000 hands
Full House: ~1 in 700 hands
While poker involves luck, knowing the probability of poker hands helps you make smarter, more strategic decisions.
Poker Hands with 2 Cards
In games like Texas Hold’em, each player starts with 2 private cards and uses 5 community cards on the table. The goal is to form the best 5-card combination from these seven cards. So, even if your 2 cards look weak initially, the community cards can completely change your hand strength.
Final Tips for Beginners
Learn the poker rules first — understand betting rounds, blinds, and hand rankings.
Practice using a poker hands chart until it becomes second nature.
Start with free or low-stake games to gain experience.
Play smart, stay patient, and never chase losses.
Final Thoughts
Mastering poker hand rankings is the first step toward becoming a confident player. Once you understand the order of poker hands and their probabilities, you’ll be able to make better calls, bluffs, and strategic plays.
Poker isn’t just about luck — it’s about knowledge, timing, and self-control. So keep this guide handy, practice regularly, and soon you’ll be reading the table like a pro.
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